First Texas Olive Oil Company is a family-run business, specializing in FRESH olive oil and other fresh, complementary foods. We base our products on the fruits and vegetables grown at the Bella Vista Ranch - blackberry and raspberry bushes (planted between six varieties of olive trees), figs and many other fruits and vegetables.

In 1996 Jack Dougherty, who grew up in the orchards of Santa Clara valley and later had a career working as an executive in the computer industry, purchased a dilapidated ranch with the intention of making it a working ranch. Today it has become an agricultural destination spot.

Jack realized that Texas soil and weather are akin to the Mediterranean, and he could not resist a stab at growing olives.

The olive trees and berry bushes on Bella Vista Ranch were planted in 1998. Our retail store opened on the ranch in the year 2000, and we opened our "frantoio" (olive pressing facility) in year 2001.

We have pressed fresh olive oil every year since 2001 and look forward to another "fruitful" pressing this Fall. If you'd like to be notified of our upcoming pressing, and get a chance to taste "fresh off the press" oil, please join our mailing list at: oliveguy@bvranch.com.

As the dry-county rules in Texas have evolved, we’ve received our winery license and created Bella Vista Cellars. Bella Vista Cellars produces a range of Italian varietals, as well as blackberry wine, from the fruit off the Ranch. We are passionate about high-quality, fresh produce and products. We invite you to visit our tasting room to sample the olive oil bar, wine bar and other gourmet foods available.