LAVERDE ARTISAN Olive Oil vs La Española Extra Virgin Olive Oil
LAVERDE ARTISAN Olive Oil vs La Española Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A single-estate Sicilian extra virgin olive oil and a long-established Spanish extra virgin olive oil, side by side.
Quick answer
LAVERDE ARTISAN is a single-estate extra virgin olive oil from one family estate in Caltanissetta, central Sicily, made from one olive variety, Biancolilla, and one November harvest. The olives are hand-picked at dawn and cold-pressed within hours, the harvest month and lot are printed on every bottle, and the oil won Silver at the Great British Food Awards 2026. It costs £20.00 for 500ml (£4.00 per 100ml). La Española is a Spanish extra virgin olive oil from a brand established in 1840, with a Great Taste 2025 award, sold at £11.50 for 750ml (£1.53 per 100ml) at Sainsbury's on 20 October 2026. Choose La Española for everyday volume at a lower price per 100ml; choose LAVERDE ARTISAN when you want to know the estate, the variety and the harvest behind your oil.
Who each oil is for
LAVERDE ARTISAN Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For people who want to know exactly what is in the bottle: one family estate in Caltanissetta, central Sicily, at around 900m; one variety, Biancolilla; one November harvest, hand-picked at dawn from century-old trees and cold-pressed within hours. The harvest month and lot number are printed on every bottle. A delicate oil for finishing pasta, salads, grilled fish and bread, and an award-winning bottle to give as a gift.
La Española Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For cooks who want a widely available Spanish extra virgin olive oil from a brand established in 1840, in a larger 750ml bottle at a lower price per 100ml. The label positions it as ideal for dips and dressings, and it comes with a non-drip pourer.
What each bottle offers
La Española details are copied as printed on the bottle we bought. LAVERDE ARTISAN details come from our own label and production records. Where a detail does not appear on the La Española label, the table says so. Prices are regular shelf prices on the date shown; loyalty and promotional prices are excluded.
| LAVERDE ARTISAN | La Española | |
|---|---|---|
| Product name | LAVERDE ARTISAN Extra Virgin Olive Oil — Cold Pressed in Sicily | La Española Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
| Size | 500ml | 750ml |
| Price (date) | £20.00 at laverdeartisan.com (20 Oct 2026) | £11.50 at Sainsbury's (20 Oct 2026) |
| Price per 100ml | £4.00 | £1.53 |
| Origin on label | Product of Italy – Sicily | Product of Spain |
| Region / estate | One family estate in Caltanissetta, central Sicily, at around 900m | Not stated on the label reviewed |
| Olive variety | Biancolilla (single variety) | Not stated on the label reviewed |
| Harvest | Single November harvest; printed on the bottle: 11 25 (November 2025) | Not stated on the label reviewed |
| Picking and pressing | Hand-picked at dawn from century-old trees; cold-pressed within hours of picking | Not stated on the label reviewed |
| Extraction (label wording) | Cold pressed in Sicily | Obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means |
| Best before | Nov 2027 | FEB-2027 |
| Lot printed | Yes (EO-251120-A01) | Yes (L.34525) |
| Bottled by | LAVERDE ARTISAN, London | Aceites del Sur-Coosur S.A., Dos Hermanas, Seville, Spain |
| UK importer | LAVERDE ARTISAN, London | Acesur Ltd, Sunninghill, Ascot |
| Awards | Great British Food Awards 2026 — Silver, Kitchen Condiments (Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil; sticker on the bottle; Silver certificate (PDF) · GBFA 2026 shortlist) | Great Taste 2025 (Guild of Fine Food listing; not on the label reviewed) |
| Brand awards | Great Taste 2026: 2 stars for Madrigal Colombian coffee, 1 star for Villalba black lentils · Great British Food Awards 2026: Bronze for Villalba black lentils | — |
| Bottle | Glass, dark green | Glass, dark green |
| Pourer / closure | Clear plastic pour insert with an open flared spout; black screw cap | Black plastic non-drip spout with a long nozzle |
| Storage advice on label | Keep away from heat, cold and light | Store away from light and heat; may become cloudy below 10°C and clears on gentle warming |
| Gift options | Gift sets with raw Sicilian honey from £16; Sicilian Pantry, 500ml + raw honey 200g, £26 | — |
| Countries available | UK; US (delivered with US import duties covered) | UK (this 750ml bottle); a La Española extra virgin olive oil range is sold in the US |
| Available on request | Germany, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland | — |
The back labels
The LAVERDE ARTISAN label names Sicily as the origin, describes olives hand-picked at dawn by generational Sicilian farmers from century-old trees and cold-pressed within hours, and prints the harvest month, the lot number and the best-before date. The La Española label names Spain as the country of origin, identifies the company that packed it in Seville and its UK importer, prints a best-before date and lot, and carries a QR code with an invitation to scan it to discover the origin.
How each brand describes the taste
We do not score flavour. These descriptions are each brand's own published words, attributed and dated.
LAVERDE ARTISAN
LAVERDE ARTISAN describes its Biancolilla oil as delicate rather than aggressive, with notes of fresh almond and green tomato and a soft peppery finish on the throat.
Source: laverdeartisan.com, Sourcing & Provenance Statement, checked 20 October 2026.
La Española
La Española describes its extra virgin olive oil as fresh and fruity on the nose, with notes of green olive and tomato leaf, a rounded palate and a gentle peppery finish.
Source: laespanolaoliveoil.co.uk, product page, checked 20 October 2026.
Which one to choose
Choose LAVERDE ARTISAN if…
- you want full traceability: one family estate in Caltanissetta, one variety (Biancolilla) and one November harvest, with the harvest month and lot printed on the bottle;
- you want an award-winning oil: Silver at the Great British Food Awards 2026;
- you use olive oil as an ingredient, not just a cooking fat: a delicate oil with notes of almond and green tomato for finishing pasta, salads, grilled fish and bread;
- you are buying a gift: pair it with raw Sicilian honey in the Sicilian Pantry gift set (£26);
- you are in the US: the 250ml and 500ml bottles ship with US import duties covered.
Choose La Española if…
- you want a larger 750ml bottle at £1.53 per 100ml;
- you use olive oil daily for dips, dressings and everyday cooking;
- you value a brand established in 1840, with a Great Taste 2025 award, a non-drip pourer and wide supermarket availability.
Key difference: La Española tells you the country; LAVERDE ARTISAN tells you the estate, the variety and the harvest. La Española is priced for everyday volume at £1.53 per 100ml; LAVERDE ARTISAN is a single-estate, single-harvest Sicilian oil at £4.00 per 100ml.
Shop LAVERDE ARTISAN Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml →
Frequently asked questions
Is La Española olive oil good?
La Española Extra Virgin Olive Oil holds a Great Taste 2025 award, listed in the Guild of Fine Food directory, and the brand describes it as fresh and fruity with a gentle peppery finish. Its label positions it for dips and dressings, and the 750ml bottle costs £1.53 per 100ml, which suits everyday use.
Is La Española olive oil extra virgin?
Yes. The bottle reviewed is labelled Extra Virgin Olive Oil and describes it as "superior category olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means", the standard wording for extra virgin olive oil.
Where is La Española olive oil from?
The label states Product of Spain. It was packed by Aceites del Sur-Coosur S.A. in Dos Hermanas, Seville, and is imported into the UK by Acesur Ltd. The label does not name a region, an estate or an olive variety.
Where is LAVERDE ARTISAN olive oil from?
From one family estate in Caltanissetta, central Sicily, at around 900m. It is made from a single olive variety, Biancolilla, from a single November harvest, cold-pressed in Sicily and bottled by LAVERDE ARTISAN in London.
Does La Española show a harvest date?
Not on the bottle reviewed in October 2026, which shows a best-before date of FEB-2027 instead. A best-before date does not tell you when the olives were picked. LAVERDE ARTISAN prints its harvest month on every bottle: 11 25, for November 2025.
Is LAVERDE ARTISAN olive oil award-winning?
Yes. LAVERDE ARTISAN Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil won Silver in the Kitchen Condiments category at the Great British Food Awards 2026. The brand also holds Great Taste 2026 awards for its Madrigal Colombian coffee (2 stars) and Villalba black lentils (1 star).
How do La Española and LAVERDE ARTISAN compare on price?
On 20 October 2026, La Española 750ml cost £11.50 at Sainsbury's, which is £1.53 per 100ml. LAVERDE ARTISAN 500ml cost £20.00 at laverdeartisan.com, which is £4.00 per 100ml.
Can I buy LAVERDE ARTISAN in the US?
Yes. LAVERDE ARTISAN Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil ships to the US in 250ml ($20) and 500ml ($36) bottles by Royal Mail International Tracked, with US import duties covered by LAVERDE ARTISAN.
Available countries — LAVERDE ARTISAN
- United Kingdom: full range (olive oil, raw honey, Madrigal coffee, gift sets).
- United States: Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil 250ml ($20) and 500ml ($36), Madrigal drip bags 20-pack ($36). Delivered by Royal Mail International Tracked; US import duties covered by LAVERDE ARTISAN.
- Available on request: Germany, France, Netherlands, Denmark and Finland. Order from Germany · France · Netherlands · Denmark · Finland: write to info@laverdeartisan.com.