Two problems with Italian oil - it can be rancid by the time it reaches U.S. markets and it can also be adulterated: Slippery Business | The New Yorker
Solution: Super-premium, Extra Virgin California olive oil. I can recommend two excellent ones:
Tres Osos (organic), Carmel Valley, CA CypressConcierge.com is for sale | HugeDomains
A. Rafanelli, Dry Creek Valley http://arafanelliwinery.com
Actually, Mike, I use French olive oil 
Alan, always settling for second best! ![[wink.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/04707e6a7bbb03e0153e349d8a9270d30e1e9525.gif "wink"){kind=small}
As to your original link, caveat emptor. As for your third, and I’m aware I’m in the minority, I wouldn’t piss on the Rafanellis if they were fully engulfed in flames.
Bob, I know your A.R history. I know you were treated poorly. Years ago, I believe?
I was there today, and was treated royally. A shockingly original and beautiful place.
I say give it another chance.
I joined an olive oil club when I lived in Paso- love their stuff-
I used to come home from HdR with a 1/2 gal of the Olea Farm oil, good stuff? Currently, I buy
OO in large quanties and EVOO in smaller quanties. My days of cooking with EVOO are over, grapeseed oil for most hot pans nowadays.
Most olive oil imported from Italy was first imported into Italy from elsewhere.
Yes Victor, but at least it was “packed in Italy”.
I am looking at a tin of Botticelli “100% pure olive oil”. It is “Imported Mediterranean olive oil” and there is a list of the five countries they get the oil from: Italy, Tunisia, Spain, Greece and Turkey. You can check the top of the tin to see what combo of countries oil is in your tin, and in this case it is 100% Tunisia.
That being said, I knew this before I bought it and am happy with the oil. Damn Tunisians know how to grow olives, dude.
Oil alert - Costco (at least in Chicago) has released a Kirkland Grapeseed in 2L containers for $7.99.
Excellent price. And, well, you can thank my ex-wife for that buy.
Recommended reading:
Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil
Pasolivo (from Paso Robles) has a stunning range of very high-quality EVOO. While living in CA,these are the only EVOO’s I use.
http://www.pasolivo.com/
It appears their selection is somewhat limited right now, but their regular EVOO is one of my favorites of theirs, and they have that in-stock.
Costco sells a range of olive oils - some I wouldn’t touch, but including a wonderful Tuscan extra virgin, from the latest harvest. The 2011 has been sold out at my local Costco for several months. The 2012 should arrive in January. Excellent oil at an excellent price.
An outstanding source for fresh, top-quality Italian (real Italian) extra virgin, in season, is Rare Wine Company. No affiliation except as a satisfied longtime customer.
They now have a late 2011 Spanish olive oil. At least my Costco does.
We have several olive oil producers who use trees from the old days, and who produce excellent EVOO. Some local stores carry them, or we buy them from the producers at various farmers markets. Stay local if possible!!
Finishing oil:
http://montecastelli.com/index.cfm?objectid=1BE3EE0B-FA7B-2242-850F3CB43143EC19&legacy
For cooking I just buy the 3L of Berio at BJ’s. Never had an issue with rancidity.
Hard to do here in Atlanta - though, believe it or not, it may become easier in the not-so-distant future: In Georgia: The Next Oil Barons – Garden & Gun
Yes indeed!!!
2011 due to frost and a very cold spring was a very small harvest in California. We did not harvest, no fruit. 2012 is looking great. It could be our best year ever.
Because I’ve found a good source for fresh oil, I use Lebanese EVOO for my every day oil (I’m convinced no one imports oil into Lebanon to tke advantage of its cache). Very nice quality for $8/liter