Welcome to Frescolio
Welcome to Frescolio ─ Winnipeg’s first specialty store to feature a wide selection of gourmet extra-virgin olive oils and vinegars in a tasting-bar setting.
Our name comes from two Italian words – fresco (fresh) and olio (oil).
We pride ourselves on having the freshest oils possible, and believe that cooking with the best ingredients should be easy and accessible.
Why?
We first became interested in the concept when we saw a similar store in Chicago in 2009. We were intrigued and impressed by the tasting bar. We had never before seen a tasting bar implemented specifically for oils and vinegars. More recently, we visited another store in Ottawa. By then we were hooked by both the tasting-bar approach and the quality of the products available. We were certain that Winnipeg’s ‘foodies’ would enjoy this approach and the superb oils and vinegars as much as we did.
How does the tasting bar work?
In the store there are more than 60 stainless steel containers (“fustis”), each containing an extra-virgin olive oil or a balsamic vinegar. Stainless steel tasting cups are available for you to sample the oils and vinegars. If you’ve always thought that one olive oil tasted pretty much like the next, you are in for an extraordinary and delightful surprise. The differences are remarkable.
When you purchase oil or vinegar in the store, we transfer the product from the fusti to a Frescolio bottle that is then tightly sealed. This on-site bulk-to-bottle approach is known to be effective in maintaining the product’s freshness.
What is “Extra-Virgin” Olive Oil?
For an oil to be legitimately called “extra-virgin”, it must meet several criteria such as means of production, chemical makeup, purity and taste. Every oil at Frescolio exceeds these criteria. We bring in oils from around the world, including Greece, Spain, Australia, Morocco, Chile, and California. You’ll be impressed with how our product compares to grocery store alternatives!
Extra-virgin olive oils are known for their health benefits; they contain no cholesterol, they have high levels of antioxidants, and they are high in mono-unsaturated fats.
What is True Balsamic Vinegar?
True balsamic vinegars originate in one of two Italian provinces – Modena or Reggio Emilio. They are aged for up to 18 years.
The aging process of the highest-quality balsamic vinegar is done in specific, traditional steps resulting in a superb-tasting product that may be used on its own or paired with an olive oil.
What other types of oils and vinegars are available?
We carry a variety of specialty oils, such as almond, sesame, walnut and avocado. These oils can be used for cooking, vinaigrettes, baking and even skin care.
We also offer several specialty vinegars, which provide a robust acidity that differs from the balsamics we carry. Currently, we offer a variety of wine vinegars, a honey vinegar and an apple cider vinegar.
What other products are available?
Besides the oils and vinegars in our store, we also offer gourmet olives, specialty salts and spices, jams, Nature’s Farm pasta, Smak Dab mustard and sea salts from SaltWest.
We’re also proud to carry Lot Ceramics’ custom made ceramic oil bottles, wooden cheeseboards by dj Graham Woodworks, and various cookbooks by Emily Lycopolus.
Supporting Local Artists
We are honoured to support three local artists at our Frescolio locations.
Heather Gillespie
At our Corydon location, we are excited to have Heather Gillespie’s gorgeous paintings on display. Her whimsical landscape paintings stand out with bright colours and beautiful skies.
Linda Barringer
At our St Mary’s location, we are thrilled to have Linda Barringer’s paintings grace our walls. These beautifully detailed and photo realistic works feature scenes in nature, portraits and recognizable Manitoba landscapes.
Kathleen Crosby
At our Regent store, we are so happy to feature Kathleen Crosby’s beautiful work. Her use of colour and movement make this tiny store seem bigger, and she captures the stunning skies of the prairies in a special way.
Thank you for your interest in Frescolio. We look forward to greeting you in the store.
─ Michael and Lise
