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A family's story
The knowledge of 4 Bérenguier generations allied to the new technologies of "oléiculture" allows Callas's mill to handle 300 tons of olives in a new workshop perfectly integrated within environment.
The "Moulin de Callas" sells unique olive oil, carefully selected by the "moulinier" and has received many rewards in the "Concours Général Agricole de Paris", also offering a beautiful range of craft products.
Home by preference to the "Ribier", a small round olive which can be harvested as of the month of November, Callas has a strong background history related to the cultivation of the Olive and the Olive Oil Industry. At the beginning of the century, the countryside surrounding Callas was covered with Olive groves. A tree that is particulary resistant and through centuries survived successive periods of frost which affected certain areas of Provence.
Since 4 generations
- 1928 : Félix BERENGUIER
- 1950 : Albert et Henri BERENGUIER
- 1970 : Nicole et Serge BERENGUIER
- 2017 : Anthony et Mathieu BERENGUIER
1928
Purchase of a building to be used as an Olive Mill by the Great Grandfather, Felix Bérenguier.
1950's
Albert and Henri Bérenguier, the 2 sons of Félix continued with the family tradition, until the 1960's when the rural exodus began and the wish of many farmers to go towards more profitable types of agriculture, essentially vineyards with lesser financial risk. Little by little the terraces of Olive trees, difficult to cultivate, disappeared from the countryside, the surrounding environment changed.
1970's
Serge BERENGUIER, son of Albert, decided to re-open the old Olive mill and with the existing structure he re-approached some of the old customers and once again Olive Oil flowed at the Olive mill of Callas. The culture of the Olive tree was gently re-introduced little by little. Once again the countryside and the terraces which were once abandoned grow cultivated olive trees.
On June 23rd, 1979
Serge Bérenguier became owner of the "Moulin de Callas", the third generation of the Bérenguier family to do so, and undertook the following steps in the modernization of the Olive mill.
August 10th, 1979
Installation of a super Olive press replacing the 2 old hydraulic presses.
1980
Fitting of 3 decantation basins.
1983
Renovation of the Olive mill, building permit to remove existing roof and elevate existing building.
1987
Purchase of a centrifugal machine.
1988
Building permit to enlarge the mill and to create a shop area.
1996
Installation of continuing extraction chain for the olive oil.
On Octobre 1st, 1998
The Olive mill changed its legal identity. The "S.A.R.L. Le Moulin de Callas" was created, Anthony BERENGUIER, son of Serge, employee in the establishment since 10th October, 1995, joined the company. The 4th generation of Bérenguier had begun.
The olive cultivation is in full revival in the department of the Var: new plantations, plans to develop and re-organize old olive groves to their former glory, financial help from the department and shortly a label of origin controlled for the olive oil of the Var.
We introduce our workshop, our manufacturing process and a tasting of our production of olive oil green fruity. A way to discover an ancestral art of living and to share this passion that has animated us for four generations to constantly increasing French and foreign visitors who are essentially looking for a production respectful of its environment that has become synonymous with quality.
At the start of the 3rd millennium we have built a new crushing workshop which meets all the standards in force and allows a better reception of our customers. This new building, perfectly integrated into the environment, completes the image we want to give of our activity: a craft resolutely turned towards the future. The restoration of the old aqueduct and the putting into operation of the paddlewheel will be the natural and necessary link between the generations of BERENGUIER.
November 5th, 2001
Inauguration of the new workshop built in the summer of 2001. As of November 8, we were able to welcome the producers' olives and extract the new olive oil.
The acquisition of new high-performance equipment combined with the know-how of the family will allow us to give you again and again an excellent quality olive oil and enhance our terroir.
2017
Renovation of our sales area.
August 2018
Anthony and Mathieu BERENGUIER become manager of the Moulin de Callas.
The fourth generation is in place.