Chiavalon in Vodnjan: olive oils, mill tours and tastings

Open. Closes at 20:00.

Chiavalon in Vodnjan makes five blends and a single-varietal Istrian Bianchera oil. A tasting helps you choose, and a tour explains how to assess quality.

Five blends and one single-varietal oil

Ex Albis and Organic combine Vodnjan Buža, Carbonazza, Istrian Bianchera, Rosignola and Morasola. Romano blends Buža with Rosignola, Atilio combines Carbonazza and Istrian Bianchera, and Mlado is made from Istrian Bianchera and Leccino. Istra is the only single-varietal oil in the current range and is made from Istrian Bianchera.

Tasting the oils side by side reveals how cultivars and proportions alter fruitiness, bitterness and pungency. A producer score in a guide cannot say which oil will suit a particular dish or palate, so tasting is more useful here than choosing solely by an award or label.

Early harvest, milled on the estate

Sandi Chiavalon began developing the family’s olive oil business in 1997 and was later joined by his brother Tedi. The present mill was completed in 2020. Olives are harvested and processed by cultivar within a few hours, in a two-phase system at 19 to 21 °C and under a controlled atmosphere. The separately milled oils are then assembled into blends.

The farm joined the Slow Food Farms network in 2025. Olive pomace is composted, stones are used for heating and two solar arrays supply part of the energy needed on the estate.

Flos Olei: scores between 95 and 99

Chiavalon received 95 points in Flos Olei in 2020, 2021 and 2022, followed by 97 in 2023, 99 in 2024 and 2025, and 98 in 2026. The 2025 edition also gave the estate its THE BEST distinction in the Azienda Green category. These are producer scores, not ratings for an individual oil.

Free tasting and guided tours

In the shop, you can sample the oils briefly and free of charge before buying. This is a practical way to compare the current range, while a booked programme covers cultivation, milling and the professional assessment of olive oil in greater depth.

Guided programmes include the grove and mill. The tasting explains how to recognise high-quality extra virgin olive oil and how bitterness and pungency relate to food. Some options add Istrian food, wine or tapas. Advance booking is required.

Free parking and an EV charging point are available beside the shop.

Distance from Bale: 9 minutes driving (9 km)

Olive oil score in the Flos Olei guide: 2020 95, 2022 95, 2021 95, 2023 97, 2024 99, 2025 99, 2026 98

Working time on Saturdays: from 09:00, to 14:00

Address: Salvela 50, 52215 Vodnjan, Istria, Croatia

Working hours from Monday to Friday: from 08:00, to 20:00

Start navigation