Enjoy the elegance of Sunshine Olive Oil

—A visit to San Luis Obispo County would not be complete without a stop at the Sunshine Olive Oil tasting room and home goods store, located in the heart of Downtown Paso Robles. Featuring a selection of local, premium, award-winning California extra virgin olive oils, a wide variety of home goods, and gorgeous décor, this family-owned business has earned a stellar reputation for providing outstanding service and exceptional products.

Owner Catherine Miller grew up in the south of France, where her childhood was filled with olive orchards and lavender fields. She and her husband, Gary, fell in love with Templeton and the surrounding area while their son was attending Cal Poly.

They purchased a 10-acre hillside property and planted different varieties of olive trees with the help of Richard and Linda Delahanty. When Richard introduced the couple to a mobile milling service, they decided to make a batch of olive oil from their first harvest back in 2018.

The first year, the Millers gave their olive oil to friends who then did a blind tasting against some of the most well-known and expensive olive oils. What started as a hobby soon blossomed into a passion.

“To our friends’ surprise, they preferred our oils,” Miller said. “That’s when we realized we had something truly special and, since then, growing and producing olives and oils has become a passion.”

When deciding on a name for their new business, Miller decided Sunshine, also the name of the street they live on, was a perfect fit. Their logo, featuring a dove with an olive branch in its beak, was inspired by a stained-glass window she had designed for their home.

Team focuses on award-winning olive oil

Miller points to their “amazing team” as being essential to the success of Sunshine Olive Oil. Together, they work to produce extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) bursting with polyphenols and antioxidants.

“Richard and Linda not only helped us plant the first trees, they are the force behind the farming,” she said. “Dominique Lobjois has been intrinsic in the evolution of our family-owned company, while Eileen Nunes and Corinne Ashley manage the day-to-day operations in our tasting room.”

Alex MacMiller was hired to assist Richard and his crew of farmworkers with planting new trees and maintaining the groves. He also mills the olives at the estate mill while his wife, Michelle, manages the company’s social media accounts.

Garnering medals this year in Paso Robles, New York, Japan, and Greece has inspired the family to keep moving forward and improving every aspect of their family-owned business.

“We are expanding our production from 5,000 trees in San Luis Obispo County to over 20,000,” Miller said. “As from the beginning, all will be planted, cared for, and picked by hand. We are continuing to focus on how to make the best olive oil, not only in California but worldwide.”

Gorgeous tasting room in downtown Paso Robles

When it comes to enjoying a unique tasting experience of fabulous and healthy olive oils, the ambiance of the Sunshine Olive Oil tasting room and home goods store in downtown Paso Robles is unsurpassed. Its welcoming setting includes a wow factor Miller describes as “eclectic and boujee” that somehow manages to maintain a large portion of its original Paso Robles history.

Featuring stamped ceilings, original 100-year-plus hardwood floors adorned with cowhides and tapestry rugs, and a tasting bar made of English Pine topped with marble, the store definitely has what Miller refers to as “a little French Je ne sais quoi” mixed with an undeniable Western flair. Under the sparkle of crystal chandeliers lie beautiful treasures for the home and garden including tea towels and tablecloths from France and Denmark, olive wood products, jams, soaps, gift baskets, and more.

“Eileen and Corinne do an amazing job running the store,” Miller said. “They can answer questions about all of our home goods, and love sharing our amazing olive oils with everyone.  They provide a tasting experience that is educational and inspiring.”

During tastings, they like to start visitors off with a lighter oil before moving on to one with a more heavy, spicy, pungent flavor. Many people like to taste vinegar as well, including some Balsamic and local, wine-based offerings.

Healthy olive oils high in polyphenols

Topping the list of customer favorites is the Tuscan Blend. Made from a mix of frantoio, leccino, moraiolo, and pendolino olives, the oil is dark green and delicately balanced with a flavor profile of green olives, freshly cut grass, almond, artichoke, and black pepper.

“It’s incredibly high in polyphenols, tastes amazing, and is super healthy,” Miller said.

For those wanting a more delicate oil for everyday use, their 100% Leccino California EVOO is a favorite. With a flavor profile of sweet, freshly cut grass, almond, and pepper, it may be used for cooking, salad dressings, or even baking.

Their Miller Blend California EVOO, with flavors of green tea, nettle, and black pepper, is a must-try. It also comes with a fun history.

“When we planted the trees, we were novices and just planted different varieties,” Miller said. “After harvest, we decided to do a field blend and, since we are the Millers, we called it the Miller Blend. Little did we know this is a technical term from the past where, at the end of the day, an olive miller would use all of the leftover olives and call it the Miller Blend!”

Since then, the family has acquired two additional properties, and now have a total of 14 acres of trees including unusual varieties such as bosana from Sardinia and hojiblanca from Spain. They are passionate about environmentally-conscious farming, refrain from using toxic pesticides or fertilizers, practice beekeeping, and also grow lavender.

The Sunshine Olive Oil team invites everyone to stop by their tasting room, peruse their offerings of unique artwork and gifts, and sample some of their award-winning oils.

“Please come by the store and experience our ray of sunshine to inspire your day,” Miller said.

The Sunshine Olive Oil tasting room & home goods store, located at 1244 Pine St. Suite 106A in downtown Paso Robles, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information visit sunshineoliveoil.com, call (805) 221-5344 or check social media for the latest events and offers.

—Meagan Friberg