Vodnjan Oil Mill: processing olives since 1911

Vodnjan Oil Mill moved from manual to hydraulic processing in its 1885 building in 1911. Today it processes its own olives and those delivered by growers across southern Istria.

From hand-operated presses to a modern mill

The building was erected in 1885, when olives were ground by hand and the oil pressed in screw presses. Hydraulic machinery arrived in 1911, marking the start of modern processing in Vodnjan. The mill was expanded in 1935 and 1936, its first Pieralisi line was installed in the mid-1970s, and low-temperature processing followed in the early 1990s. Restoration of the building and new equipment in 2021 continued that sequence of changes while preserving its original purpose.

Harvests from growers across southern Istria

The mill does not process only olives from its own groves. For decades it has also accepted harvests from other growers, making it part of southern Istria's olive-growing infrastructure. Nearly a thousand growers brought fruit here in 2020. After refurbishment, the mill continued to accept olives for contract milling. Deliveries for that service are arranged directly with the mill before harvest.

Why olives should not wait

The line introduced in 2021 uses a continuous two-phase process at 24 to 25 °C. Olives from the company's own groves reach the mill within a few hours of picking. Speed matters because harvested fruit begins to lose freshness, but it does not guarantee good oil on its own. Sound olives, cleanliness and temperature control throughout processing matter as well.

The mill, the company and the brand are not the same

The production site is operated by Terra Eno Olea, formerly Agroprodukt. Salvela is its olive-oil brand, while this address is primarily a working mill. Terra Eno Olea scored 96 in every edition of Flos Olei from 2020 to 2026. The guide assesses a producer through selected oils, so the score does not apply indiscriminately to every bottle. Oils are sold and tastings arranged at Salvela's shop in Vodnjan. The map on this page leads to the production site in Trgovačka Street.

Distance from Bale: 12 minutes driving (11.1 km)

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

Address: Trgovačka ulica, 52215 Vodnjan, Istria, Croatia

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