Our Story
Since 2000
After living fifteen years in the United States, in the vast plains of Arizona, their Southern French accent hasn’t faded one bit!
Catherine and Jean-Benoît Hugues decided to return to their roots. They reconnected with their Provençal land to dedicate themselves to their passion: the olive tree.
The story of CastelaS began in 1997 with a love at first sight for old olive trees planted on the southern slope of the Alpilles, in a place called Castelas.
Today, Domaine Castelas produces olives on 45 hectares under the Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) of the Vallée des Baux de Provence and 65 hectares in the Plaine de Crau.
It is in the mill located at the foot of the Château des Baux that Catherine and Jean-Benoît have successfully combined expertise, passion, rigor, technique, and all their sensitivity as olive growers to produce powerful olive oils each year.
In their distinctive oils, you will find the terroir of the Alpilles, the olive varieties (Salonenque, Aglandau, Grossane, and Verdale) typical of the AOP, and the miller’s touch. The CastelineS Collection will reveal treasures of flavors and the complexity of their olive oils, regularly awarded at the Concours Général Agricole in Paris.
A Family
A land, a passion rooted in the Alpilles
It was in the heart of the Alpilles, where the light caresses the olive trees, that Catherine and Jean-Benoît Hugues chose to settle in 1997. From a few trees taken over on the lands of Castelas, they have built, season after season, an olive estate renowned for the excellence of its oils. Here, everything begins with a dream: to make the land speak, to respect nature, and to reveal the authentic taste of the olive.
The Human Adventure
A team, a shared history
At Moulin Castelas, the story is first and foremost that of a close-knit team. Behind each bottle lie years of camaraderie, shared efforts, and mutual trust. Some have been there since the beginning, others have grown with the harvests — all share the same pride: that of being part of a house where people work together, respecting the product and the people. It is thanks to their passion, their loyalty, and their high standards that Castelas has become what it is today.
The Olive Grower
The Guardian of the Land
The olive grower watches over the orchards, knows every tree, every breath of mistral. He prunes, nourishes, observes, protects. From flowering to harvest, his patient expertise is the first link in the chain of quality. He works with the land, not against it, and brings forth fruits of rare purity.
The Miller
The Alchemist of Taste
When the olives arrive at the mill, everything speeds up. The miller orchestrates the transformation, adjusts the temperature, monitors the texture, tastes, refines. His eye and palate determine the final character of each oil. Between technical rigor and artisanal sensitivity, he is the master of taste, the one who transforms fruit into green gold.
The Olive Oil Producer
The Living Link of the Mill
The olive oil producer embodies the soul of Castelas. He is everywhere: pruning, harvesting, sorting, cleaning, handling. He connects the land and the machine, the field and the mill. His strength, precision, and passion give rhythm and life to the production. In every action, he perpetuates the collective spirit of Moulin Castelas.
Visit,
Stroll, Taste
in the Vallée des Baux de Provence
Producer and Miller in Provence. We welcome you every day, in the heart of the Vallée des Baux de Provence, under the protective gaze of the castle, for a culinary escape set against a Van Gogh painting.