LA ROSA

A Swedish wine estate in the Upper Douro valley near Pinhao is the source of this extra-virgin olive oil from Portugal.

The Bergqvist family have lived and . worked in the centre of Portugal's famous port-producing region since 1805. Until 1988 they sold their wine to other more famous port shippers but now they market their own produce direct to the customer and, of course, this includes their own estate-produced extra-virgin olive oil.

Visitors to the Douro can stay at the rambling quinta house, with its bathroom carved from the rock which supports the vines above, or in one of the two farmhouses on the property which have been restored.

The extra-virgin olive oil from this estate has always sold well to particular chefs who really like its earthy tastes. It is a distinctly different oil with an aromatic flavour of dried rosemary, thyme and lavender.