Aceite Condado de Martiniega

Martiniega County

Condado de Martiniega is a family project dedicated to the production of extra virgin olive oil in Corella, Navarre, in the heart of the Ribera de Navarra region. The brand's professional history began in 1998, meaning it now has over 25 years of experience linked to olive cultivation and the pursuit of oils capable of representing the unique character of the Navarrese territory. The Jiménez family is behind this project, which was born with a commitment to olive growing in an area located much further north than Spain’s traditional large-scale producing regions.

From its beginnings, Condado de Martiniega has developed a philosophy based on origin, traceability, and quality control, paying attention to the entire journey the olive takes from the tree to becoming oil. The company works its estates throughout the year and monitors the various phases involved in obtaining its EVOO through specialized technicians.

The result is a range of oils that aims to express the particularities of each estate and variety. Labels such as Martiniega 1998, El Carasol, La Cárcel, Fanfán, and Grand Cru are part of a project that has evolved and expanded its offering over the years, yet maintains that Navarrese olive grove where its story began in 1998 as its starting point.

Early harvest and different varieties to create signature EVOO

Condado de Martiniega’s production is focused on obtaining early-harvest extra virgin olive oils, identifying the moment when each olive possesses the appropriate characteristics of ripeness, moisture, and fat yield. To determine when harvesting should begin, samples are taken from different areas of the estates and analyzed over days or weeks until the optimal time to harvest the fruit is established.

The harvest is primarily carried out during the months of October and November and is performed mechanically to minimize time. Once picked, the olives are immediately transported to the mill. Condado de Martiniega notes that only a maximum of 3 to 6 hours pass between harvesting the fruit and obtaining the oil, a fundamental aspect for preserving the freshness and the physical-chemical and organoleptic properties of the olive. Extraction is carried out cold and exclusively through mechanical procedures.

The Arbequina variety is especially linked to the brand's origins. It is the variety grown on the Estado de Martiniega estate and the star of Martiniega 1998, the oil that represents the birth of the project. The range has subsequently been expanded with new monovarietals and blends, incorporating varieties such as Lecciana and Oliana, which allow for very different profiles: from mild and sweet oils to creations of greater intensity, complexity, and polyphenol content.

To produce one liter of its EVOO, the brand indicates that it may need approximately 7 to 10 kilos of olives, depending on the variety. After extraction, the filtered oils are stored in stainless steel tanks with controlled temperature and a nitrogen atmosphere, while bottling is done in small batches on demand. All of this is aimed at preserving for as long as possible the aromas, flavors, and natural characteristics obtained during the harvest.

Olive groves between the Bardenas Reales and Moncayo

The territory is one of the most unique elements of Condado de Martiniega. The Estado de Martiniega estate, where the family's professional project began, is located in the Ribera de Navarra, within the Ebro Valley, specifically between the Bardenas Reales and the Moncayo Natural Park. It is an especially interesting location for olive cultivation, as it is situated in a northern zone subject to different conditions than the major olive-growing regions of southern Spain.

Estado de Martiniega has more than 20 hectares of irrigated Arbequina olive groves. From these groves, a limited production is obtained, which the company itself estimates at approximately 30,000 to 50,000 liters of EVOO per year. Throughout the vegetative cycle, the family pays special attention to tasks such as pruning, irrigation, and fertilization, seeking to keep the trees in the best possible condition before the harvest arrives.

The characteristics of the environment also have a direct influence on the oils. The area has a Mediterranean-continental climate, with significant thermal contrasts, and its olive groves are exposed to the influence of the Cierzo, the characteristic wind of the Ebro Valley. Added to this are clayey and stony soils and particular water availability conditions that contribute to shaping the character of the olives grown on these estates.

Condado de Martiniega understands each estate as a small territory with its own identity. Therefore, in addition to Estado de Martiniega, the project has developed oils linked to specific plots, such as El Carasol or La Cárcel, within Campos del Rullo. This relationship between estate, soil, climate, and variety is an essential part of their philosophy: to produce oils that not only express a specific olive, but also the landscape of the Ribera de Navarra from which they originate.