De Rustica Olive Estate
“The freedom of the open road is seductive, serendipitous and absolutely liberating.” Aaron Lauritsen
Road Trips. One of the great pleasures of life! There are two ways in which to approach a road trip. The first is to climb in a car and just go. Which is wonderfully liberating and full of surprises. The second is to take the time to do the research, plan the trip and then only jump in the car and go. I am a big fan of both. But (there’s always a ‘but’!) – I also have huge FOMO. The thought of getting to a quirky spot on the day they are closed or discovering afterwards that you missed out on some fabulous little joint because you didn’t know about it – that’s all too much for me. Besides which, the planning of a road trip is just such fun… A couple of quiet hours spent with my computer, my trusty friend Google (isn’t it just the best resource??) and a good cup of coffee is almost as great a pleasure as the road trip itself.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” Anais Nin
I am fortunate in that I get another opportunity for gratification after the trip, as I am commissioned to write about and thus share my experiences, which also gives me great pleasure… So, all in all, just a wonderful way to earn a living!
Today’s column is about one of those little gems along the way, which we so often whizz past, determined to reach our destination as soon as possible. De Rustica Olive Estate. Located at 1 Oudemuragie Road, De Rust, it is just a short deviation off the N12. Located less than five kilometres from De Rust, it is the perfect stop on the road to the Cape (make a mental note for December’s trip!).
I studied at Wits. Apparently, so did Rob Still, who initially studied and became a professional chartered accountant. At 30, he entered the world of mining and evolved into a mining entrepreneur. At around 60 he moved into the world of private equity in mining, where he still plays an active role.
As with many, shortly after celebrating his 50th birthday, he was called in a different direction. With the disconcerting prospect of retirement looming, and driven by a desire to give back to South Africa and make a meaningful impact, he searched for a project that involved nurturing the land and contributing to the earth’s well-being. He was also searching for something significant, something meaningful, to occupy his energy and creative spirit. Enter De Rustica Olive Estate.
But don’t be fooled into believing that Still simply walked into an existing business. His mother, Beth Still, was a renowned landscaper and gifted him a lifelong appreciation of the beauty of gardens. During his childhood in Johannesburg, he explored many of the gardens of Johannesburg. It was perhaps inevitable that the direction he chose was agricultural.
Still has always been committed to excellence, and so, as a starting point, he commissioned a comprehensive study to examine soil conditions and various other factors important to olive farming. This study identified the Klein Karoo (which has cold winters and warm summers) as the perfect environment for olive trees. Coincidently, he also had a personal connection to the area – as a young army officer he had traversed the Swartberg mountains extensively. Over and above all of this, pristine mountain water was available in this area. So, he chose the De Rust area, and in 2006 he invested in the Oude Muragie and Le Roux farms, which became the core of his farm. In 2008, he expanded further with the purchase of the Grootkruis properties, and today De Rustica Estate spans an impressive 2200 hectares.
The world does not, as a rule, associate South Africa with the production of Olive Oil. Rob Still has a pioneering spirit, choosing his own path rather than walking in the footsteps of others. These are the character traits he applied to his De Rustica Olive Estate, and the outcome was rather startling. Never before, in the history of the prestigious 2023 International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality Awards (EVOOLEUM), has an olive oil from outside Spain or Italy been proclaimed “absolute best”. In 2023, De Rustica Olive Oil became the first, with its Coratina oil winning both “Absolute Best Olive Oil” and “Best in Class” Awards. They beat 999 other estates from around the world to win this honour. De Rustica has won many, many other awards over the years, but this award is likely the pinnacle of their achievements to date. A testament to Still’s hard work and commitment to excellence.
These awards and this success are not enough though, and the estate is deeply committed to benefiting the local community. A belief in sustainable business and long-term benefits for future generations is part of the ethos of this company, and they have implemented significant empowerment initiatives, including a Regional Partner-Growers Extension Scheme. They have also made meaningful contributions to the local inhabitants by renovating local community halls, which become the heart of gatherings. They are used for church get-togethers, local meetings, creche services, and educational programmes.
On our recent tour of this area, we popped into the estate. We enjoyed an olive oil tasting and a talk explaining the differences between the various oils. There are some great products on sale, and I can highly recommend a light lunch at the simple, elegant restaurant.
You can even purchase a Fusti – manufactured almost exclusively in Italy, these tanks have been used for decades in Italian households and by small producers of olive oil for storage and dispensing.
There are some initiatives in South Africa that put into practice the very best ethos, pervaded with the essence of inclusion and a commitment to excellence. De Rustica is just such a place, and well worth the visit. For those unable to reach the estate, you can shop online – thereby supporting a venture that is Proudly South African and making a positive difference in this incredible country of ours.
Slow down, breathe, enjoy the journey and make the time to explore those entities which imbue the true spirit of everything that this country could be…
Jacqui Ikin & The Cross Country Team
INFO BOX:
De Rustica Olive Estate
Tel: 044 241 2177
Email: sales@derustica.co.za
Address: 1 Oudemuragie Road, De Rust, 6650
https://derustica.co.za/
https://derustica.co.za/shop/
https://www.facebook.com/derustica
https://www.instagram.com/derusticaolive/
