Now taking orders for 2010 oil.
Thank you for your interest in the Bramasole Convivium. What is a Convivium, you might ask? Borrowed from the slow food movement (see www.slowfoodusa.org),
convivium is a Latin word that means "a feast, entertainment, a banquet," from conviva, "a table-companion, a guest," from convivere, "to live with, hence to feast with." The
Bramasole Convivium is a group of people
who love Bramasole olive oil. In essence,
it is a buyer's club where you have access to the
freshest and best Tuscan oil available
in America
How does it work?
Convivium
members commit in advance to purchasing
at least one case of oil for the year. Knowing how many people commit
in advance, we only import
the number of cases that have been
pre-purchased. We take care of everything, as usual – from the
trees to the pressing, the bottling, packaging, shipping to the US,
customs, etc. As soon as we receive
the bulk shipment, we pack your case
(or more – you're welcome
to buy more than one case – in case increments) and send it to
you. That's it – we do not ship any other oil all year,
until the next harvest, when we do
it all over again.
How much does it cost?
Each
year there are slight differences
in the cost, due to the amount harvested,
the Euro exchange rate (which i skilling us right now!), and fuel
prices. For
2010, the cost will be $285 per 12
500 ml bottle case, including delivery
within the continental US. If
you live near our warehouse (now near
Durham, NC), you can pick up
the case and only pay $258. If you
live outside the continental US,
please contact us for your total
cost, which will be higher due to
shipping rates (Note that the US
Postal Service no longer offers sea
freight, so the only way to ship
is by air). There are
discounts if you purchase more
than one case. For example, 2
cases costs $556, and 3 cases costs
$825. Contact us for pricing
on larger quantities.
When
and How do I pay?
Payment occurs each year by mid-December for oil delivery in mid-March to mid-April.
By this time, we must have either received your check, or you must have
requested
and
paid
the
electronic
invoice. Most people send in their checks in early December. We won't cash
checks until after the first of the year. Electronic invoices are debited
as soon as you pay.
Make checks out to: "Under
the Tuscan Sun, LLC" and send them to:120 Hawks Peak Rd., Aptos,
CA 95003.
If paying by credit card (using
the electronic invoice), there is
a 3% surcharge to cover fees (the
fee is 4% for non-US customers, as
our fees are higher). Email us and
let us know that you want to pay
in this manner.
When can I join?
You
can join any time. Just fill out the form below. Please note,
however, that after January 1st,
we cannot take anymore orders for
that year. You can still join, however,
it will be for the following year.
When do I get my oil?
Oil delivery occurs by April.
How long will the oil last? How will it stay fresh over time?
Kept
in a cool (70-ish degrees), dark place, the oil will easily last eighteen
months. After that, the oil does not spoil – it simply loses
some of its flavorful kick”.
Fill
out this form to join (now taking reservations
for 2010)
Here are some questions we think you might have, and their answers.
Why are you no longer selling small quantities of oil?
The
business has always been for fun–a
hobby really. We have no paid staff.
We'd like to keep bringing the oil
to US, but we've got to find a way
to make it manageable and fun. We're
striving to get the oil here as early
as possible—there's
nothing like the taste of fresh olive
oil.
I'm
not sure I can use an entire case.
What should I do?
We
recommend that you get together with
friends and family and order a case. Between a couple people, a case
goes pretty quickly. A bottle
of oil makes a great gift during
the holidays and throughout the year–try
bringing a bottle as a housewarming
gift, or instead of a bottle of wine, to the next party you attend,
to see what a big hit it is. To
improve your cooking, use more oil!
Why do I have to pay in advance?
We need to figure out how much oil we need to bottle by early January. We have to notify the local Tuscan government as to this amount, so that they can come and inspect the oil and give it the IGP (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) approval (this is the regional approval that verifies that the olives are from Tuscany and the oil is pressed in Tuscany under strict quality standards). We pay the government for every bottle that is certified, and they only certify as many bottles as we pay for, so knowing the amount up front is crucial. We also have to pay for customs, shipping across the ocean, etc.
What
if I don't pre-commit to an order;
will I be able to buy the oil later?
No. We will only bring in as many cases as are pre-ordered. You would have to wait until next year to order a case.
Can I order more than one case?
Yes, you can order as many cases as you like.
What happens if my case is damaged?
Although rare, sometimes FedEx drops a package. We will do extra-protective careful packing, and we will order a few back-up cases to cover drops and breaks. If your case is damaged, we will replace any damaged bottles and ship them to you at no charge.
Will single bottles be available at retailers/grocery stores?
We
don't work much with retailers, as we do not have the volume to make this work. If you're a retailer
who is willing to pre-order, drop
us an email to talk.
I still have questions. Who can I contact?
Send an email to info@thetuscansun.com.
