November festivities to feature olive mill tours, seasonal meals, tastings, Food & Wine Pavilion, and chef demonstrations
October 5, 2026 (Dayton, OR) — As Oregon’s olive harvest gets underway, Durant is once again welcoming guests to its Dayton estate for the 17th annual Olio Nuovo Festival, a monthlong, NW Italian-inspired celebration of the season’s freshest olive oil and the flavors of fall. Throughout November, visitors can experience the harvest firsthand with olive mill tours, cooking demos, tastings of Durant’s newly pressed extra virgin olive oil, seasonal food and wine pairings, live music and special events that bring together local chefs, makers and producers. The festival will also feature a Food & Wine Pavilion and Holiday Marketplace, offering plenty of opportunities to taste, gather and shop as the holiday season approaches.
“Every harvest brings something a little different to the oil, which is what makes olio nuovo so exciting,” said owner Paul Durant. “This is the moment when the oil is at its freshest and most vibrant, and we love sharing that experience through tastings, food and the many ways people can explore the mill during the festival. November is a special time to see what the harvest has produced and enjoy it at its peak.”
This year’s festivities include:
- Feast Olio: This immersive culinary experience begins with an exclusive tour of the Durant Olive Mill while sipping Durant Vineyards sparkling wine. Following the tour, guests will enjoy an elevated 7-course olive oil-centric Italian supper with wine pairings, prepared by Durant’s resident chefs, Eric Bartle and Sara Kundelius. This event takes place the first three Saturdays in November (November 7, 14, 21) from 12 pm – 2:30 pm, and seating is limited. Reservations are available here. $175 per person.
- Oeno & Olio Tasting: Oeno (Latin for “wine”), is paired with Olio (“oil” in Italian) for special tastings that will be the first three weekends in November at 11 am. Guests will enjoy a fun communal tasting while they partake of fresh bruschetta and explore Durant’s estate grown and crafted wines alongside Durant extra virgin olive oils. Seatings are limited. Reservations are available here. $75 per person.
- Olio Food & Wine Pavilion: Visitors will enjoy live music, Durant Vineyards wine, and a variety of Northwest-inspired cuisine from local restaurants in the heated Food & Wine Pavilion at the Durant Tasting Room. The pavilion is open each full November weekend, beginning November 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with fresh oysters available during the final weekend of the festival. Free admission.
- Olio Nuovo Mill Tours: Guided tours of Oregon’s only olioteca (olive oil mill and tasting room) are offered daily in November, this behind-the-scenes look offers an exploration into growing olives in the Northwest, and a chance to see the mill in action! For visitors’ safety, the mill will be blocked off while the mill and large equipment is running, but guests will be able to see the operation in action and taste the fresh Olio Nuovo (new oil). Note: olive harvest is dictated by nature, so the mill may not be running during all tours. However, there’s still a lot to learn, taste and enjoy! Hours: Mon – Fri at 11 am; Saturday and Sundays at 11 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm. Free but reservations are required here.
- Community Mill Day: Inspired by traditional community milling days in the Mediterranean, this event is designed for small-scale growers who don’t meet the 1,000-pound minimum for Custom Milling — all you need is just 2 gallons of olives! Join for this special, hands-on experience celebrating Olio, as we combine everyone’s harvest to create a fresh, seasonally unique Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This event will take place on Sunday, November 15, at 10 am. Reservations are available here.
- Self-Guided Olive Oil Tasting: Visitors to the Durant Farm Shop can enjoy a self-guided exploration of the distinct flavors of freshly milled extra virgin olive oil. Sample each olive variety, side-by-side, exploring the unique flavor characteristics found in the various olive cultivars. Participants can also get cooking and pairing advice from Durant’s educated staff members while shopping the selection of Durant extra virgin olive oil – from small gift bottles to full gallon sizes. Free admission.
- Holiday Decor at the Nursery: Daily 10 am – 4 pm throughout November. Durant’s nursery and greenhouses will be transformed into a whimsical winter plant and flower market filled with fresh greenery, an expanded selection of seasonal plants for the home, gifts for gardeners and so much more. Visitors will find fresh cut olive branches from the Durant orchard, festive olive crowns and Durant-crafted holiday wreaths featuring olive foliage. Complimentary greenery/holiday decor demonstrations are also available. Free admission.
- Olio Grand Finale: Saturday and Sunday, November 28 & 29, 10 am – 4 pm. Join for a festive weekend at the Farm as we celebrate the grand finale of the Olio Nuovo Festival and kick off the holiday season—Durant-style! Enjoy Oysters & Olio—freshly shucked oysters drizzled with olio—alongside the debut of two new Durant Vineyards sparkling wines, the 2021 Blanc de Blanc and 2023 Brut, available by the glass or bottle. The weekend also features a special progressive holiday marketplace throughout the olive mill and farm shop, with local vendors offering unique gifts, artisan culinary goods, holiday décor and more. Plus, bring the whole family for pictures with Santa Claus in the olive mill.
For more information and a full lineup of events, visit: https://durantoregon.com/
About Durant
Founded in 1973 in scenic Dayton, Ore., Durant includes Durant Vineyards Winery & Tasting Room, charming accommodations at the two-bedroom Stonycrest Cottage, and Oregon’s only commercial olive mill, Durant Olive Mill. As pioneers in Oregon’s wine-making industry, the Durant family has become renowned for bright Pinot Gris, lively Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Brut, and food-friendly Pinot Noir. In 2008, Durant founded Durant Olive Mill, consisting of 17 acres of olive trees and a state-of-the-art Italian olive mill. Durant Olive Mill is the premier purveyor of Oregon milled extra virgin olive oil and home to the annual Olio Nuovo Festival. Year-round, visitors are invited to stroll the grounds to see the beautiful gardens, hedges and koi pond, peruse the artful garden pottery for sale and admire the fragrant plantings of rosemary, lavender and other herbs. For more information or to purchase Durant goods online, visit: https://durantoregon.com/.
