What Are The Similarities Between Olive Oil And Wine?

Wine is one of the most sophisticated drinks on the planet. Still, it's nothing more than fermented grape juice. Olive oil is not dissimilar. Just pure, cold-pressed olive juice that becomes the most sensual ingredient on earth, the gem behind all Mediterranean cuisines. Talking about the Mediterranean diet, both wine and olive oil are cornerstones from which such healthy, fresh and flavorful food is built. Olive oil is to your plate what wine to your glass; they're both culinary enhancers that can elevate your dining experience to heavenly heights. These are the most significant similarities between olive oil and wine. Add them to your diet and enjoy both of the two worlds.

Both Are Good For Your Health

Recent scientific data has shown that communities with numerous people over one hundred years share certain traits, and we're talking healthy and happy people — one of them is living life at its fullest. The other is enjoying olive oil and wine. Wine, particularly red wine, is a significant antioxidant source that keeps scavenging free radicals in our bloodstream at bay. Our favourite fermented juice has anti-inflammatory properties as well and might reduce the risk of heart disease. Olive oil is one of the healthiest superfoods out there and, like wine, is a superb source of antioxidants. It's also an all-natural source of mono-unsaturated fats, beneficial for your heart. Consuming olive oil often can reduce the risk of heart disease, aid against chronic inflammation, premature ageing and can lower cholesterol levels.

Both Are Artisan Agricultural Products

Olive oil and wine are a product of the land, and both offer a 'sense of place' or what the French call terroir. The soil type, sun exposure, orientation, draining and temperature determine if a plot of land is suitable for growing premium olive trees and grapevines or not. It's not only the terroir that matters but the methods and techniques used in a winery or olive oil press to achieve outstanding results. Dedicated olive oil producers cold-press their olives and add no preservatives or additives. The same can be said about wine, the more natural, the better. For premium wine and extra virgin olive oil, you need the finest fruit and expert hands.

Both Are Immensely Complex and Pleasurable

Wine is all about its complex bouquet, ranging from ripe blackberries and golden apples to damp earth, vanilla and leather. Olive oil provides the same sensory pleasure with flavours and scents that can be refreshing and herbal or beautifully ripe redolent of fresh fruit. There are numerous grape and olive varieties and each one has its own distinctive taste. Wine sommeliers assess the wine's quality and even determine its varietal and origin. Olive oil sommeliers do the same thing — that's how sophisticated fine olive oil can be. Wine and food pairings are in vogue, but you'll be surprised to know you can pair distinct types of olive oil with your dinner to create an entirely new adventure. If you want to read more, please check out our feature on Olive oil and Food Pairings.

Both Need The Same Care

You surely know that you must handle wine with care. Only by storing your bottles at the right temperature and humidity labels will they evolve and mature. Olive oil requires special care too. It shares wine's mortal enemies: heat, light and time. Excessive temperatures can ruin your wine and your favourite olive oil. When exposed to heat, complex chemical reactions eventually strip these agricultural products from their flavour and aromatic profiles. Light can damage wine and olive oil, as well, to the point of ruining them. You can even see the decay in their colour. Time is olive oil and wine's enemy, and ours too. We all have our days numbered, and there's no point in fighting decay. Olive oil shows its best when youthful, and you could say the same about wine — less than 5% of the wine produced is meant to be aged for more than three to five years.

Premium Wine and Olive Oil; Always Struggling.

Yes, wine and olive oil are fantastic expressions of the land that can enhance our dining experience, but not everyone shares the same feeling about quality. Most wine and olive oil is produced industrially, with additives and automation. These products don’t have a soul. Only a small percentage of both foo items is of authentic high quality. Low quality and fake products taint both industries' reputations, and passionate artisan producers struggle to survive in a market that favours price over quality. If something is true for both olive oil and wine: you get what you pay for. And even then, you must always make sure that there are quality-minded people behind each bottle. You can't fake quality, but you can undoubtedly print fancy labels and underprice your competition. Ultimately, it's up to us, the consumers, who have the last word. Let's show our love to the producers that have made from quality olive oil and wine their life's work!