First Cold-Pressed, Extra-Virgin Grapeseed Oils Hit the Market
Posted: Saturday, December 2, 2000
By Laura Stanley
Top chefs have always prized grapeseed oil for its neutral flavor, high burning point and long shelf life. It has been respected as a reliable kitchen workhorse, nothing more. But that's about to change. Salute Santé, a Napa-based producer of plain and flavored grapeseed oils, has just introduced two cold-pressed, extra-virgin versions, the first ever made. They're winy and complex -- a full-flavored new alternative to premium olive oil.
It takes a ton of grape seeds to make just 8 ounces of extra-virgin oil, said Salute Santé CEO Valentin Humer, and it took him 10 years to figure out how to do it. "The seed is very hard, like a rock," he explained. To extract the oil correctly, he had to develop and patent his own steel press, which is currently in Germany. The seeds used are strictly European, but in time, the company will cold-press in California as well.
The two deep-green oils -- one a varietal bottling made from Chardonnay seeds, the other a nonvarietal -- are similar in character. The nonvarietal is bright and summery, with a lively, grassy taste and aroma that makes it an ideal complement for grilled fish, tomatoes and grain salads. Add a little verjus, suggested Humer, and you have a dazzling dressing for garden-fresh lettuces. The Chardonnay oil is deeper and more autumnal, and tastes strongly of Chardonnay wine. It adds luscious dimension to simple roasted potatoes, and it's delicious over gravlax or fresh, warm cheese. Both sell for $29.95 for an 8-ounce bottle.
Riesling oil will be next, followed by other varietals. Salute Santé plans to publish recipes from fans, including celebrity chefs, on its Web site (www.grapeseedoil.com) for customers looking for ways to use the new oils. The site also provides information about the health benefits of the antioxidants in grapeseed oil.
Salute Santé products are available at gourmet stores nationwide, through its Web site and from Food & Vine, Inc. at (888) 388-7117.
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