Our beginnings…

In 2005 we bought Casa Sant Elia. We had no intention of buying an Italian property but if we did, it would not be one that needed renovating.

I had flown out to join Jerry as he finished a business trip, so thought we’d add on a couple of extra days to have a very quick road trip through Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche. 

I had always loved Italy, and as we drove further and further away from the tourists in Tuscany I began to see a much more rural, almost simpler way of Italian life. It didn't take too long before that old cliche “wouldn't it be lovely if…”

So, on a whim, we found an estate agent, we found the house, and within weeks we’d bought a farmhouse within 5 hectares (12 acres) of land, and on that land we had ten very old olive trees. 

We couldn't have been happier with our architect Sergio, and our builder Natale, both agreeing that we should keep as many original features during the renovation as possible. Sergio also had the idea of planting more olive trees, so that they would have a ‘head start’ before the renovation had finished… but how many?  “What about 100” says Jerry! 

So that was the start of our olive grove, which has grown considerably over the years, and is still growing!

Our daughter Chloe and her husband Braz, also loving the Italian lifestyle, bought and renovated the beautiful farmhouse 300 meters down the drive.

One of the first things they did, was to plant another 100 olive trees! So on our combined land of 8 hectares (24 acres) the olive grove has grown to over 500 olive trees.

It was never in our wildest dreams that we would be producing our very own Extra Virgin Olive Oil

                                                   ...our introduction to wine making comes later!