Contrada Ceola is a small agricultural hamlet on the hillside above Bardolino, at an altitude that captures both the mild breezes from Lake Garda and the warmth reflected from the moraine hills to the east. It is one of the few remaining contrade — traditional rural settlements — where farming has continued uninterrupted for centuries, largely because the land here has always been exceptionally well suited to olive cultivation.
The microclimate of Contrada Ceola sits within the larger Garda DOP production zone, where winters are mild enough to prevent frost damage to the ancient olive trees and summers are moderated by the lake's thermal mass. This combination produces olives — primarily Casaliva, Leccino and Drizzar — with a natural balance of fruitiness and low acidity that is the hallmark of authentic Lake Garda extra virgin olive oil.
When you visit Esveal, you are not visiting a commercial facility: you are visiting a working organic farm where the olive groves, the distillation laboratory, the agriturismo and the farm shop all occupy the same small hillside. You can taste the olive oils and essential oils produced here, see where they come from, and take them home with the confidence of knowing their exact origin. We recommend calling ahead to confirm availability for tastings, especially outside the main harvest season.