Corto Olive Releases Its Most Unexpected Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Yet — Horseradish — Alongside Fan Favorite Calabrian Chili

Available September 1, the 2026 Agrumato-Method Gift Set pairs the debut Horseradish Olive Oil with returning Calabrian Chili

LODI, Calif., Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KEY TAKEAWAYS

Corto Olive has released its 2026 Agrumato-Method Gift Set, a limited-edition pairing of Horseradish Olive Oil (a first-ever for Corto) and the returning Calabrian Chili Olive Oil. Crafted using the traditional Agrumato method, each oil is made by simultaneously crushing fresh seasonal ingredients with Fall Harvest olives, bringing together the best of both worlds to create a harmonious, well-balanced olive oil.
Developed in partnership with Corto’s Chef Taste Panel, this year’s Agrumato-Method gift set is designed to spark creativity in professional and home kitchens. Building on five years of award-winning Agrumato releases, the set features Horseradish alongside the return of fan-favorite Calabrian Chili, joining previous flavors, including Yuzu, Lemongrass Basil, and Lemon Verbena.
This October, participating chefs across the country will showcase limited-time Agrumato-inspired dishes on their menus featuring Corto’s Horseradish Olive Oil and award-winning Calabrian Chili Olive Oil. Consumers can explore participating restaurants, chefs, featured dishes, and flavors through Corto's interactive Agrumato map. Full details coming soon.

Corto Olive, the 100% California-grown olive oil trusted by chefs nationwide, today released its 2026 Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set, which pairs returning fan-favorite Calabrian Chili Olive Oil with the debut of Horseradish Olive Oil — an earthy, decisive expression developed alongside chefs. With the goal of sparking creativity in the kitchen, the gift set is available beginning September 1 at http://corto-olive.com/products/agrumato; Amazon availability and shipping begin mid-October, immediately after milling and bottling. To bring the 2026 Agrumato release to life, Corto is featuring exclusive recipes developed by top chefs, including Christian Reynoso and Whitney Otawka, author of The Saltwater Table cookbook and a Corto education ambassador. Since 2021, each Agrumato release has sold out. Quantities are limited.

“Every Agrumato release starts the same way: we ask chefs what flavors they want to explore, we find the most vibrant ingredients, and we crush them with our olives immediately after harvest when they are at peak freshness. What comes out of the mill is something far greater than the sum of its parts. Our favorite part of the entire process is to see how chefs and home cooks bring the oil to life on the plate.”
— David Garci-Aguirre, Master Miller, Corto Olive

Why horseradish, and what makes it different from anything on the market?
Few ingredients are as instantly recognizable as horseradish. Its sharp aroma and clean heat have anchored iconic dishes for generations, yet it is seldom reimagined beyond its use as a condiment. Corto changes that by applying its Agrumato method, which simultaneously crushes fresh California olives and horseradish together to capture the ingredient’s true character in olive oil. Chef-tested, Corto’s Agrumato-Method Horseradish Olive Oil is a perfect accompaniment to oysters, beef, root vegetables, creamy sauces, and an olive oil martini. Calabrian Chili Olive Oil returns as the collection’s counterpoint — aromatic, crisp, and clean with a balanced kick of heat.

What is the Agrumato-Method, and how is it different from infused olive oil?
Infused oils add herbs, spices, or extracts after the olive oil has been produced. The ingredients are often not fresh and may include artificial additives, preservatives, or coloring. Corto’s Agrumato method is fundamentally different: fresh, seasonal ingredients are simultaneously crushed with Fall Harvest olives at the mill. The flavors marry during the process itself, at peak freshness. The technique is rooted in Italian tradition, only occurs during the brief Fall Harvest window, and is why each release is limited. The result is complex, nuanced, and vibrant in a way infused oils are not. Corto’s Agrumato gift set has earned top honors from the Japan Olive Oil Prize, Terraolivo, the London International Olive Oil Competition, the California State Fair, the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, and the LA International Olive Oil Competition, as well as praise in The Strategist, The Kitchn, and the Wall Street Journal.

Who is the Chef Taste Panel, and how do they help shape each Agrumato release?
Corto’s Chef Taste Panel is a select group of professional chefs who help shape each Agrumato release through recipe testing, food pairing insights, flavor feedback, and new product inspiration. What began as a five-chef pilot has grown into a nationwide network of more than 75 chefs. By working closely with Corto’s team throughout development, the panel ensures every release is chef-tested and grounded in real-world culinary application. The original Taste Panel chefs include:

Silvia Barban — LaRina Pastificio e Vino, Briscola Trattoria, Tortelli; Brooklyn
Stephen Gillanders — Apolonia, S.K.Y., Valhalla; Chicago
Trevor Knotts — East Coast Provisions, West Coast Provisions; Richmond, VA
John Gutekanst — Avalanche Pizza; Athens, OH
Barney Hannagan — Two Hands; Austin

What recipes has Corto developed for the 2026 Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set?
To showcase the versatility of the new oils, Corto Education Ambassador and acclaimed chef Whitney Otawka developed a collection of new recipes, including Oysters with Juniper & Horseradish Mignonette, Steak Sandwich with Horseradish Chimichurri, Horseradish Olive Oil Martini, and Poached Shrimp with Calabrian Chili Cocktail Sauce. Additional recipes, including Chicken with Spicy Calabrian Chili Olive Oil Salsa Rossa, were developed by acclaimed recipe developer and chef Christian Reynoso. Find the recipes at corto-olive.com/recipes/agrumato.

“These Agrumato-method oils from Corto are provoking me to be creative, which I think gives all chefs the edge to be successful.” — Chef Barney Hannagan, Two Hands; Austin

“The new horseradish oil is very exciting. This oil brings a beautiful counterpoint to the velvety, slightly olive flavors of the oil. It’s a perfect delivery system for the previously unsung but beautiful flavor of horseradish.” — Chef Gayle Pirie, Foreign Cinema; San Francisco

What are some easy ways to enjoy Corto’s Agrumato-Method oils?
Corto’s Agrumato-Method olive oils are an easy way to add body and depth to even the simplest dishes. The Horseradish Olive Oil is a perfect accompaniment to oysters, beef, root vegetables, creamy sauces, and an olive oil martini. The Calabrian Chili Olive Oil elevates fried eggs, pasta, pizza, and cocktails with a unique kick. Use either to transform popcorn into anything but ordinary.

Where can I purchase Corto’s Agrumato-Method Gift Set, and how much does it cost?
Corto’s Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set is $84 and can be purchased at corto-olive.com/products/agrumato starting September 1, 2026; It will be available on Amazon beginning mid-October 2026.

What makes Corto Olive Oil different?
Beloved by professional chefs and home cooks alike, Corto treats olive oil as a harvest-fresh ingredient, not a shelf-stable commodity. Olives are harvested at peak freshness and milled within hours to protect their natural flavor and aroma. The oil is cold-extracted and stored in climate-controlled stainless-steel tanks until it is fulfilled on demand, helping to protect its sensory characteristics from the mill to the kitchen.

By controlling each step of the process—from grove to mill to packaging—Corto delivers olive oil with the freshness, flavor, and consistency that professional chefs and home cooks expect. Founded in 2005, the company has helped elevate California premium olive oil through a relentless focus on freshness, craftsmanship, and culinary performance.

What is Agrumato Month?
This October, Corto is bringing the 2026 Agrumato release to life through Agrumato Month, a first-of-its-kind, chef-led activation in which participating restaurants across the country feature original Agrumato-driven dishes on their menus for a limited time and share their interpretations on social media. Diners can discover participating Agrumato Month restaurants on an interactive map at corto-olive.com/products/agrumato. The schedule of Agrumato Month activations will be announced October 1.

QUICK FACTS
Product: 2026 Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set
Includes: Horseradish Olive Oil + Calabrian Chili Olive Oil (2 × 500 mL)
Price: $84 (gift set of 2 - 500 mL bottles)
Availability: corto-olive.com/products/agrumato from September 1, 2026; and Amazon from mid-October 2026
Shipping: Begins mid-October 2026, immediately after milling and bottling
Awards + Accolades: Corto’s Agrumato-Method Olive Oil Gift Set has earned top honors from the Japan Olive Oil Prize, Terraolivo, the London International Olive Oil Competition, the California State Fair, the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, and the LA International Olive Oil Competition, as well as praise in The Strategist, The Kitchn, and the Wall Street Journal. The full list of awards can be found at corto-olive.com/pages/corto-awards.

ABOUT CORTO OLIVE
Rooted in its Italian heritage, inspired by innovation, and committed to its values of transparency and quality, Corto has been producing the highest quality, freshest, 100% California olive oil since 2005. Made from beautifully fresh olives grown in California groves, the oil is expertly blended by Corto’s Master Miller to achieve a stunningly bright flavor profile that professional chefs have relied on for over a decade to enhance their favorite dishes. Corto currently offers consumers several award-winning oil varieties to fit every type of cooking: TRULY^® Extra Virgin Olive Oil, limited-edition Agrumato-Method Olive Oil, La Padella^® Sauté Oil, and the Chef’s Essentials Kit, featuring the exclusive Piccolo^® Datterini Baby Plum Tomatoes from Stanislaus Food Products. The Company also offers Club Corto memberships, virtual tasting experiences, and foodservice formats, including its 51-49® Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Sunflower Oil Blend.

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Attachments

Molly Antos
Dadascope Communications / on behalf of Corto Olive
T: (847) 848-2090 · corto-pr@dadascope.com

Corto Olive releases its 2026 Agrumato-Method Gift Set

Corto Olive has released its 2026 Agrumato-Method Gift Set, a limited-edition pairing of Horseradish Olive Oil (a first-ever for Corto) and the returning fan favorite Calabrian Chili Olive Oil. Crafted using the traditional Agrumato method, each oil is made by simultaneously crushing fresh seasonal ingredients with Fall harvest olives, bringing together the best of both worlds to create a harmonious, well-balanced olive oil.

A Chef-Approved Gift

The gift set is available beginning September 1 at http://corto-olive.com/products/agrumato; Amazon availability and shipping begin mid-October, immediately after milling and bottling. Since 2021, each Agrumato release has sold out. Quantities are limited.

Developed in partnership with chefs

Developed in partnership with Corto’s Chef Taste Panel, this year’s Agrumato-Method gift set is designed to spark creativity in professional and home kitchens. Building on five years of award-winning Agrumato releases, the set features Horseradish Olive Oil alongside the return of fan-favorite Calabrian Chili Olive Oil. To bring the 2026 Agrumato release to life, Corto is featuring exclusive recipes developed by top chefs, including Christian Reynoso and Whitney Otawka, author of The Saltwater Table cookbook and a Corto education ambassador.

A versatile new flavor: Horseradish

New this year, Corto’s Agrumato-Method Horseradish Olive Oil is a perfect accompaniment to oysters, beef, root vegetables, creamy sauces, and an olive oil martini.

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