Grubić olive oils in Bale: the historic olive oil mill and modern production

Closed. Opens on today 09:00.

At the Grubić olive mill in the centre of Bale, machinery dating from 1927 is preserved in the same building as the modern processing equipment and tasting room. The visit begins beside a roughly 400-year-old olive tree of the Buža ženska cultivar and ends with a comparative tasting of three extra virgin olive oils: Vallea, Buža and Rošinjola.

People in Bale know the old mill as Stari Torač or Vecio Torcio. It operated from 1927 to 1965, then fell into disrepair for decades. The Grubić family restored the building and preserved the traditional machinery. Glass doors now separate it from the modern equipment, so the contrast between the two ways of working can be seen almost at a glance.

The historic olive oil mill and production today

A guided tour follows the olive from cultivation and the timing of harvest through processing and storage of olive oil. The stone mill, presses and hydraulic pumps show how the work was done almost a century ago. Today the olives are picked by hand and reach the mill for processing within four hours. After crushing, the paste is mixed under continuous cooling at no more than 24 °C, and the oil is stored under nitrogen in stainless-steel tanks.

There is most to see during the harvest, from the second half of September until around mid-October, when the mill is working and the oil has only just been produced. The historic part of the mill and the tasting room can also be visited by appointment throughout the rest of the year.

Vallea, Buža and Rošinjola: three extra virgin olive oils

Vallea is a limited-production extra virgin olive oil made solely from the fruit of around 200 Buža ženska trees, each approximately four centuries old. Grubić Buža combines Buža ženska, Buža muška and Puntoža, while Rošinjola has more pronounced bitterness and pungency. Tasting them together shows how cultivar, tree age and the composition of an oil alter its aroma and flavour. The host also offers practical suggestions for pairing each oil with food.

In the Flos Olei guide, the estate scored 94 points in 2024, 96 in 2025 and 97 in 2026. In 2025, Grubić Buža received the Gourmet Bronze award at the AVPA Huiles du Monde competition in Paris, in the light green fruitiness category.

Tours, tastings and purchases

Guided visits are available year-round for individuals and groups of up to 40 people. Duration, languages and price are confirmed when booking. Individual visitors can taste all three extra virgin olive oils before buying.

The olive mill at Aldo Negri 7 is open from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 19:00 in June, July and August, and 9:00 to 16:00 in May and September. It is closed on Sundays, while visits during the rest of the year must be arranged in advance.

Olive oil score in the Flos Olei guide: 2020 94, 2022 94, 2021 94, 2023 94, 2024 94, 2025 96, 2026 97

For: families, first time visitors

Address: Aldo Negri 7, 52211 Bale - Valle, Istria, Croatia

What to do: refreshments, food and drink

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