Ojai Olive Oil: A Taste of the Valley, One Pour at a Time

Ojai is a place that invites visitors to wander citrus groves, browse farm stands, linger over long lunches – a place best experienced slowly. The  valley is full of winding roads into pockets of agriculture that feel both historic and deeply alive.

One of the best stops for agritourism-minded travelers is Ojai Olive Oil, a family-run olive farm and tasting room tucked into the hills at 1811 Ladera Road in Ojai. Visitors can shop and taste daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., surrounded by the farm’s heritage olive grove and the quiet, golden landscape that makes the Ojai Valley feel so distinct.

A Family Olive Farm With Deep Roots

Ojai Olive Oil is a third-generation family-owned and operated farm run by the Asquith family. Matriarch Mary Jane Asquith was the first family member to settle in Ojai. But, it was her son, Ronald Harold Asquith who began producing olive oil after discovering a grove of centuries-old olive trees near the original family home. Those trees had no tending for nearly a century, yet were still healthy and producing fruit. That inspired Ronald and Alice Asquith to purchase the land and begin making olive oil from the heritage grove.

Today, the farm is under management by third generation farmer Philip Asquith and continues to grow. The original grove is made up of Lechin de Sevilla, a Spanish variety known for bold, peppery oil. Over time, the family planted additional olive varieties, including Columella, Leccino, Pendolino, Frantoio, Maurino and Nocellara del Belice. Ojai Olive Oil now produces extra virgin olive oil blends, herb and citrus-infused oils and balsamic vinegars. They to plant more olive trees each year and cooperatively farm olives on other nearby properties in the region.

Why Olive Oil Belongs on an Ojai Farm Itinerary

Olives thrive in Ojai’s Mediterranean-style climate – making it a natural home for these trees. The valley’s warm days, cool evenings and dry conditions are similar to the regions where olive trees have thrived for centuries.

A stop at Ojai Olive Oil pairs beautifully with other local farm experiences. You can add in citrus tasting, farmers markets, farm stands, wine tasting or a farm-to-table meal in town. It gives visitors another way to understand the valley’s agricultural identity — not just through fresh fruit or vegetables, but through a pantry staple that carries flavor, place and craftsmanship.

The farm also participates in the Ojai Farmers Market on Sundays in downtown Ojai, giving visitors another way to taste and buy its oils while exploring the local food scene.

What to Expect in the Olive Oil Tasting Room

The Ojai Olive Oil tasting experience is approachable, educational and delicious. Guests can sample the farm’s extra virgin olive oils, infused oils and balsamic vinegars. They will also learn how different olive varieties, blends and flavor profiles work in the kitchen.

Tastings are $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends, with shopping open seven days a week. Dogs are welcome in outdoor areas as long as they are well behaved and on leash. Additionally, the facility is accessible, with vehicles carrying wheelchairs welcome to drive up near the tasting room.

For visitors who are new to olive oil tasting, the experience can be eye-opening. Just like wine, olive oil has aroma, texture, bitterness, fruitiness and peppery notes. A good tasting helps guests understand why fresh, well-made olive oil tastes so different from a bottle that has been sitting too long on a grocery shelf.

Award-Winning California Olive Oil

Ojai Olive Oil has earned significant recognition for its oils. It has won more than 50 Gold Medal and Best in Show awards at local, state and international tasting competitions, including multiple awards from the New York International Olive Oil Competition. Owner and manager Philip Asquith has received a Master Miller award from the California Olive Oil Council.

That craftsmanship matters. Extra virgin olive oil depends on careful harvest, quick milling and proper storage. The best oils capture the freshness of the olive at a precise moment, then preserve it through thoughtful handling.

A Taste of Sustainability

Ojai Olive Oil has a commitment to sustainability and organic farming practices. For visitors, that makes the farm a strong example of how agritourism can go beyond tasting. It can help people understand the choices behind food production: how to care for the land, how ensure survival and productivity of trees are and how a farm can remain productive over generations.

That is especially meaningful in a place like Ojai, where agriculture is woven into the valley’s identity. The farm offers a chance to see that sustainability is not an abstract idea. It is found in old trees still producing fruit, in family stewardship, in careful milling and in visitors who leave with a deeper appreciation for what they are eating.

How to Use What You Taste

Part of the fun of an olive oil tasting is imagining how each bottle will come home with you.

Drizzling a robust extra virgin olive oil over grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, beans or steak is delicious. A softer, fruitier oil might shine on salads, fresh tomatoes, burrata or citrus. Infused oils can add easy flavor to pasta, popcorn, marinades, soups and roasted chicken or even cake. Balsamic vinegars can be used for vinaigrettes, glazes, cheese boards, strawberries or even a splash over vanilla ice cream.

The tasting room experience helps visitors move beyond “olive oil” as a generic ingredient and start thinking like cooks: which oil for finishing, which oil for dipping, which oil for everyday cooking and which bottle to save for the good bread.

Make It a Full Ojai Agritourism Day

For a farm-focused Ojai itinerary, start the morning with a visit to a local farm stand or citrus grower, then head to Ojai Olive Oil for a tasting among the trees. Afterward, continue into town for lunch at a farm-to-table restaurant, browse local shops, or visit the Sunday farmers market if your trip falls on a weekend.

Ojai is known for hiking, biking, horseback riding, farm and food experiences, and locally sourced dining, making it an ideal destination for travelers who want their trip to feel rooted in place.