Harvest Retreat
Querubi Harvest Retreat
There are few better ways to understand olive oil than to experience the harvest itself.
Every autumn, for a few precious weeks, Domaine de Querubi becomes the centre of an intense and joyful ritual. The olives reach the perfect stage of ripeness, the harvest teams move through the groves from early morning, and within hours fruit picked from the trees is transformed into fresh, intensely green extra virgin olive oil.
Our Harvest Retreats invite guests staying at Domaine Madrona to become part of this moment.
Our Harvest Retreats
Mornings are spent in the groves at Querubi, picking alongside the people who grow our olives. The work is hands-on and sometimes demanding, but it has its own rhythm: outdoors among the trees, with the Pyrenees all around.
Throughout the week we talk about how the land is farmed organically: the soil, water, pruning, the weather and the many decisions that shape the quality of the oil. Willem gives a talk on our farming practices, and guided olive oil and wine tastings show how much the two have in common.
Afternoons are slower. There is time for the medieval village of Castelnou, a day on the coast at Collioure, the Romanesque Abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa and the market at Céret, where everyone buys something for a cookery class and a final dinner together. Evenings are spent around one table at Madrona.
Six nights, Monday to Sunday.
Cost
Single-occupancy participant is €1,950
Double-occupancy participant is €1,550
Prices include six nights at Madrona, all meals with drinks before dinner, the harvest mornings, olive oil and wine tastings, a cookery class, talks and visits to local historic sites, a massage, all transport during the week and scheduled transfers. Each guest also receives twelve bottles of Querubi oil: six when you book and six from the new harvest.
Dates 2027
Monday 4 October to Sunday 10 October 2027
Six nights at Madrona. The group is kept small, so places are limited.
Travel Logistics
Domaine Madrona and Domaine Querubi are close to the medieval village of Castelnou, in the French Pyrénées-Orientales.
We suggest flying to Barcelona Airport. Our shuttle leaves the airport for Madrona at 14:00 on the Monday, so please book a flight that lands by 13:00. On Sunday, the shuttle leaves Madrona for Barcelona at 10:30. We can also collect you free of charge from Perpignan airport or station.
If you are making your own way, please aim to arrive at Madrona by 18:00 on the first day.
Further Information
Please contact Holly at holly@domainemadrona.com for any further queries you might have.
Looking forward to seeing you in the orchards soon.
The Querubi team