Our Tuscan friend, Sr. Grappolini, blends an array of Italian extra-virgin olive oils on his estate to create this great introductory oil. I can think of a hundred reasons to give this oil away—for one, the cartoon label designed by us makes it a lot of fun—but you'll definitely want to think about keeping a bottle for yourself. The smaller size and lower price will let you add it to your olive oil arsenal without the expense of buying a bigger bottle.

The 2012 harvest is a great introductory olive oil. It has a grassy aroma that hints of pepper to come. The flavor starts mellow and butter, then builds to a mild, warm peppery finish that reminds me of arugula.

Zingerman's Food Tours is visiting Tuscany October 2013. Join us for a behind-the-scenes insiders' journey to traditional food makers like this.