Corto Truly’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) reigns supreme in our household. It’s like a ray of sunshine—bright, grassy, with a peppery, spicy finish that signals true freshness and high quality. My kids can proudly identify it in blind taste tests.
6 Reasons Corto Truly EVOO Shines
My family’s obsession with Extra Virgin Olive Oil is excessive. We have tried many — across price points, harvest regions, and brands. There’s Round Pond, Cobram, McEvoy, Brightland and Fat Gold. Plus Graza, Partanna, Filippo Berio, California Olive Ranch, Bariani, O Olive Oil and Olive Truck. There’s also the more value focused options like Kirkland, Trader Joe’s, Berkeley Bowl, 365 Whole Foods Market and Bertolli. These are just a few of the purchases to pass through our pantry.
1. EVOO Freshness You Can Taste
Corto harvests in California every October–November, when olives are at their peak. Unlike many other olive oils that remain on shelves for months, Corto packages orders in batches. The oils are stored in environmentally controlled stainless-steel casks until they are filled into the patented FlavorLock Box or bottles, ensuring true harvest-date freshness.
Here is proof: Both boxes were harvested during peak olive season, yet the “Best if used by” dates differ. The box purchased in June 2024 is labeled “APR 2026”, while the box purchased in August 2024 is labeled “AUG 2026”. This demonstrates that the later in the year you buy, the further out the freshness date is extended—clear evidence that Corto truly (pun intended) fills orders in batches to preserve peak quality until the next peak harvest.
2. Certified Quality EVOO
Corto Truly Extra Virgin Olive Oil is certified by the California Olive Oil Council. Why does this matter? The COOC has strict standards for chemical analysis and sensory testing. This ensures the EVOO meets one of the highest bars in the world. It’s also worth noting that these standards are reviewed annually, so you know the rigorous certification process is always up to date.
3. Global Recognition
Many brands boast awards, but what do they mean? The gold standard for olive oil competitions is the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition. (It can be compared to the Academy Awards of film.) Corto has proudly earned recognition there, most recently with a 2025: Silver Award for Corto Truly Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It’s an impressive accomplishment in this very crowded space with so many EVOO’s to choose from.
4. EVOO That’s Affordable Without Compromise
While most premium extra virgin olive oils cost more than $30/500ML, Corto Truly Extra Virgin Olive Oil offers an amazing value at less than $25/500ML. If you buy in bulk there’s an even greater deal with the 3L box’s cost coming in at $74 (that’s under $13/500ML). Corto Truly is affordable without sacrificing quality.
You can only order Corto Truly EVOO online right now. There’s free shipping in the contiguous United States so it’s super easy and delivered to your door.
5. Outstanding Customer Service
Corto’s customer service team goes above and beyond. I’ve emailed and even called with questions ranging from order details to olive oil information. Every time, I’ve received a thoughtful, non-canned response within 24 hours. It’s rare and refreshing in today’s automated customer service world.
Corto is the second largest olive oil producer in the U.S., known for its large-scale operations in the Sacramento Valley. California Olive Ranch is currently the largest, in case you were curious.
6. Smart Packaging
We buy the 3L FlavorLock box for the best value and to maintain freshness. You can refill your own bottle or pour directly from the spout.
According to Corto, “Researchers found that olive oil stored in bag-in-box containers maintained its extra virgin classification for the entire 120 day trial when stored at room temperature (71.6F).”
TL;DR
Bottom line: Corto Truly is bright, peppery, fresh, and affordable good brand of EVOO. From harvest to packaging, it’s the EVOO our family will always keep stocked.
We use about three 3L boxes of Corto Truly each year. Here are some of our favorite ways to use this really good brand of EVOO.
- Your New Favorite Avocado Toast
- Potato Salad, For Folks Who Love Sour Cream & Eggs
- This Pan Con Tomate-Inspired Toast Is Your New Go-To Snack
Disclosure: This is not an ad. There are no affiliate links. It’s just a brand we really love and wanted share.