Experience the Joy of Real Olive Oil at Global Gardens
Sure, a nice bottle of extra virgin olive oil can definitely give off a dash of wanderlust — who doesn’t dream of a trip to Italy or Greece with every savory drizzle? But in that daydreaming, we often forget just how many bounties our dear California has up her sleeve.
It’s easy to drift to images of oranges and almonds, but Theodora "Theo" Stephan knows there’s so much more that this state’s rich soil has to offer... and she’s been reaping the benefits of this intel for decades.
Enter Global Gardens, Southern California’s first Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) producer nestled in gorgeous Los Olivos.
It’s a picture perfect Santa Barbara County hideaway that Stephan fell in love with from the moment she ran out of gas, just outside of town in 1993.
At the time, she had founded a graphic design firm in Dayton, Ohio, and was traveling back and forth between the Midwest and Los Angeles to work on the Universal Studios and CityWalk accounts. Before returning to a snowy winter in Ohio, however, she rented a Jaguar convertible to soak in the last bit of sun while she traveled through Wine Country.
When her tank hit zero, a couple of kind locals pushed her to the nearest pump station — and it was there that her fate was sealed in the Golden State.
She caught a glimpse of a stunning, sprawling 50-acre ranch advertised in Ranch Land Real Estate’s Magazine and knew it was meant to be. She sold the design firm, rounded up a few partners, planted 2000 olive trees, and “have never looked back,” she declares with a laugh.
As the brains behind Global Gardens, Stephan has achieved and learned so much in her years of harvesting these little green gems.
“We were the first to plant olives for olive oil in Santa Barbara County and the first to plant a commercial olive grove of greek varietal Koroneiki olives,” explains the entrepreneur.
“We actually imported 500 bare root trees from Greece in 1995!”
In addition to a mixture of serendipity and taking risks, Stephan also credits a “serious love for gardening, good food, entertaining, and living amongst nature” that led her to make the leap.
And today that adoration continues to grow…
“Productivity makes me happy,” says Stephan.
“No matter how old I get, I'll always be planting, growing, and creating. It's part of my soul work.”
This includes the sommelier certification process she completed in 2019 (which required the tasting and testing of over 1000 olive oils), as well as judging competitions which she plans to get involved with as the world opens up again.
Over two decades from inception, Global Gardens’ organic, local, extra virgin olive oils are internationally renowned and have received over 20 medals from the likes of the LA County Fair and the International Olive Oil Competition in New York, amongst many others.
Global Gardens has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Food + Wine Magazine, Bon Appetit, Better Homes & Garden, and Sunset Magazine, and sees visitors from all over the world.
In fact, The LA Times called Stephan the "California Olive Oil Guru" — and the title stuck. Her adherence to an organic, earth-first approach goes alongside her motto:
If you're not growing something, you're not living to your fullest potential.
Giving her particular street cred, StephaN is also an olive oil sommelier (of which there are fewer than 300 in the world).
“My parents are from Greece, but the first time I went I was in my late 20's,” she explains. “Tasting ‘real’ olive oil opened up a new world of flavor profiles and I suddenly realized why so much ‘American’ food tastes bland. Salt, pepper, non-healthy fats like canola or other vegetable oils, fake ingredients, lots of water and high fructose corn syrup added to packaged goods — YUCK!”
Committed to quality of life and supporting our state’s economy and farmers,
Global Gardens’ olives are picked by hand and pressed only once — within hours of harvesting — resulting in a high-quality, unmatched freshness and quality.
Every EVOO has a distinct flavor profile. Newcomers and seasoned fans will adore the Frantoio "Best In The West" California Extra Virgin Olive Oil, as well as the Olio Nuovo whose olives only come to fruition once a year at harvest.
Never one to sit still, Stephan has created The Global Gardens Farm Stand and has expanded into other goodies grown and sourced on-site, including natural-fruit vinegars, mustards, olive oil soaps, nut oils, spices, natural skincare, and so much more.
Additionally, their Global Gardens’ Members Clubs have become a huge draw for savvy epicureans and adoring locals alike, with their most popular being their Classic Seasonal Culinary Club. For $55, members receive $80 worth of goodies quarterly — one each of the EVOO and hand-crafted Balsamic Vinegar, and an original culinary food product derived from Global Garden’s own roster of family recipes. (This season, it's a new charcuterie spread made with organic mustard seed, blood orange juice, and herbs.)
There’s also the Bi-Monthly Club (EVOO, extra cooking item, no vinegar) and the monthly EVOO-Only Club for those who use a bottle or more a month.
Come holiday shopping, the Clubs make the perfect fit for a gift that keeps on giving. Casual gourmands, hostesses with the mostest, vinegar lovers and haters, as well as serious cooks and chef types can find their happy place with the variety of options (all found here). On top of the perks, every Club membership includes a 25% discount during the holiday season, 20% off the rest of the year, free shipping on orders over $89, admission to exclusive club events, and the opportunity to join Stephan on a trip to Crete for a food and wine tour.
For locals or those passing through the Santa Ynez Valley, expect a big meowy greeting from Global Gardens’ locally famous 18-year-old mascot, Zac the Cat, as well as an educated staff who are truly obsessed with all things olives. They’ll give you the 411 on every product, in addition to info about skincare made with their own olive oil by a local esthetician.
And you can’t forget about the tastings!
Book a tasting by appointment for the whole family, which includes a “flavorful, guided tour around the world full of flavors,” their signature olive oil tasting tray, a fresh rustic roll made by a bakery just down the road, a tasting spoon, a full-sized bottle of your favorite oil to take home, and access to a private picnic garden for an hour. It’s literally the perfect daytime activity between wine tastings… and it comes with a cat!
(And yes, he does dress for the season.)
The Farm Stand has plans to transition to a larger space in 2022, with the goal of offering food and wine pairings, more educational forums, events, group tastings, and more... so stay tuned.
Charlotte Farrell is an Orange County-native, editor, writer, and editorial content strategist who finds a thrill in telling stories about the marvelous things humans have accomplished, in addition to topics such as wellness, food, climate change, sustainability, clean beauty, fitness, mental health, and travel. She has a particular interest in globe-trotting, finding the best matcha latte in each destination she visits, and petting every dog (or cat) she meets along the way.
Photos by: Lindsay DeLong.