Olive trees in the Valley of Nekeas are nothing new, olive trees have been grown in the valley since time immemorial, providing the families living in nearby villages with oil.

The growing of olive trees in the region, however, differs somewhat from that in other areas because the Valley of Nekeas is one of the northernmost places on the peninsula where they thrive.

Olive trees (like grapevines) are only possible here thanks to the intervention of 3 geographical and climatic circumstances:

1. The extremely humid northeast winds from the Atlantic Ocean are checked by the mountains of the Sierras of Urbasa and Andía.

2. To the north, the Sierra of El Perdón protects the valley from cold winds from the Pyrenees and Central Europe.

3. Warmer air from the Mediterranean reaches the valley from the south, allowing the trees to grow and their olives to ripen.

Despite this Mediterranean influence, temperatures in the Valley of Nekeas drop in the winter and border on the danger threshold for olive trees. In the summer, temperatures are medium/high although there is a significant contrast between day and night. This contrast means that the olives ripen slowly, making for an oil with a highly complex composition

The early arrival of frost in November means that the olives have to be harvested promptly. This lends the oil its highly-appreciated fresh, fruity, grassy nuances.

Two varieties have been chosen for the new olive groves in Nekeas: