Grown in the Geelong region

Bellarine Peninsula

Spicier

Water on three sides, salt in the air, and the home of FORTE 559.

Shop Bellarine Peninsula oilsAll regions
Character
Spicier
Landscape
Flat and coastal, water on three sides
FORTE 559 variety
Corregiola
Growing
Dryland, no synthetic sprays or fertilisers
2026 harvest
8 May (FORTE 559)

The land

The Bellarine is flat, open country with water on three sides and very little shelter from it. It's coastal and exposed, with salt in the air.

The FORTE 559 grove

FORTE 559 comes from a small grove of Corregiola trees between Swan Bay and Port Phillip Bay. The land around it has been regenerated: native trees and grasses have been restored across the property, and the creek on its northern boundary has been returned to its natural state.

The trees are dryland grown, relying entirely on seasonal rainfall, and they're farmed without synthetic fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. The 2026 fruit was picked on 8 May.

Barwon River

GRO also grows Moraiolo at Barwon River. It's a variety that's common in Tuscany and rare in Australia.

What it does to the oil

Bellarine oils are cleaner and noticeably spicier than oils pressed further inland, and the bite arrives early. In FORTE 559 that means freshness up front, followed by the peppery kick of an early-harvest oil.

Oils from the Bellarine Peninsula

Every oil here is grown in the Bellarine Peninsula.

The other groves

Explore the region

Tap a region to see what the land does to the oil.

Corio Bay Port Phillip Bass StraitGeelong Torquay

Pins mark the approximate grove areas.

01 · Spicier

Bellarine Peninsula

Water on three sides, salt in the air, and the home of FORTE 559.

Landscape
Flat, open country with water on three sides and very little shelter from it.
Climate
Coastal and exposed, with salt in the air.
In the glass
Cleaner and noticeably spicier than oils pressed further inland, with a bite that arrives early.
FORTE 559 variety
Corregiola
Growing
Dryland, no synthetic sprays or fertilisers
2026 harvest
8 May (FORTE 559)

Oils from here

02 · Stronger

Otway Ranges

Higher, cooler and wetter. The home of FORTE 507.

Landscape
Bambra, in the Otway foothills: a steep, north-facing hillside sheltered by dense forest to the south and east.
Climate
Higher, cooler and wetter.
In the glass
The most assertive oils GRO presses, with pungency that builds slowly rather than hitting straight away.
Location
Bambra, Otway foothills
Aspect
Steep, north-facing
Variety
Frantoio
2026 harvest
14 June (FORTE 507)

Oils from here

Explore the Otway Ranges

03 · Sweeter

Surf Coast

Where Mt Moriac Olives began, and where the estate oils still grow.

Landscape
The hinterland behind the coast, on Mt Moriac's mineral-rich basalt soils.
Climate
Cool hinterland, cooled by coastal air.
In the glass
Softer, rounder oils with less bite.
Varieties
Frantoio, Leccino, Picual, Arbequina
Original planting
1,500 trees on 6 ha
2026 harvest
June (estate oils)

Oils from here

Explore the Surf Coast
Australian International Olive Awards
2025Best EVOO in VictoriaFORTE Frantoio 2025PlatinumChampion, Robust class93/100FORTE Frantoio 2025PlatinumReserve Champion, Italian varietal92/100FORTE Frantoio 2025Gold88/100MMO Estate Spanish 2025Silver84/100MMO Estate Tuscan 2024Reserve Champion, Other varietalGRO Verdale 2023Best Australian EVOOBundara View Koroneiki 2023Best EVOO of Show, CommercialBundara View Koroneiki 2023Best EVOO, Southern HemisphereBundara View Koroneiki 2023Best EVOO in VictoriaBundara View Koroneiki 2022Gold88/100Mt Moriac Estate Tuscan 2022Gold86/100Mt Duneed Estate Blend 2021Gold87/100Barwon River Olives Tuscan 2021Silver82/100Mt Moriac Estate Spanish 2020Champion, Italian varietalGolden Plains Taggiasca 2020Gold91/100Golden Plains Taggiasca 2020Silver83/100Mt Moriac Estate Spanish