Cuadrat Valley is a family-run olive oil producer in L'Albagés, Catalonia, dedicated to producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil with the protected designation of origin (PDO) Les Garrigues. The company's story began in 2014 when Evelyne Cuadrat Teycheney, along with her husband Patrick and daughter Caroline, reclaimed their ancestral land and rebuilt the family estate.
The estate covers 90 hectares, 62 of which are planted with Arbequina olive trees. The remaining areas consist of woodlands, truffle oak groves, and almond trees. The olive groves are situated in a hilly landscape at an altitude of up to 470 meters, which is ideal for olive cultivation.
In 2022, Cuadrat Valley built a state-of-the-art olive oil mill, enabling the production of a unique extra virgin olive oil with its own distinctive aromas and nuances. Designed by architect Marc Alventosa, the mill blends harmoniously into the landscape, inspired by the region's traditional agricultural terraces. The 17-meter-high building is partially sunken into the ground to integrate seamlessly into its surroundings. The exterior walls are constructed of stone, and the roofs are planted with native plants and trees. Inside, the natural rock structure is used as a decorative element. The reception area, the only visible part of the building, offers panoramic views of the estate and the Montsant and Pyrenees mountain ranges through its glass facade.
The mill is among the most modern in the world, enabling the production of a unique extra virgin olive oil with its own distinctive aromas and flavor nuances. Cuadrat Valley pursues a consistent quest for excellence in every detail, including continuous olive cooling, stoned olives, gentle milling of whole olives, state-of-the-art separators, continuous filtration, slow and gentle extraction without elastomers, temperature-controlled storage, and bottling under an inert gas atmosphere. This advanced technology goes hand in hand with the care, love, and passion for the land and the production processes, which are essential prerequisites for producing one of the world's finest extra virgin olive oils.
The harvest begins in the first week of October, when the garrigues take on their first reddish hues. To preserve the fruity and primary characteristics of the oil, the harvest begins at daybreak. The Arbequina olive is at the peak of its greenness and vibrancy, expressing the full spectrum of flavors: bitterness, pungency, and aroma. This early-harvested oil is distinguished by a very low oleic acid content and a high content of vitamins and antioxidants. In November, the small Arbequina olives continue to ripen and turn red, ready for the second harvest: L'OLI, "Réserve Familiale".
The company places great emphasis on sustainability and converted its entire operation to organic farming in 2022, with the goal of obtaining organic certification by 2024. By foregoing insecticides and chemical treatments and exclusively using organic fertilizers, Cuadrat Valley contributes to the preservation of biodiversity.
The combination of tradition, innovation and respect for nature enables Cuadrat Valley to produce exceptional olive oils that reflect the authentic taste of Catalonia.
