Jake and I love food. That’s no surprise to anyone who knows us, so Della Terra was a no-brainer.

As a first-generation Canadian-born Italian, good olive oil was, and is, an integral part of my life. It’s not only a staple in our kitchen, it’s part of our DNA. Foraging, preserving and homesteading connect us to our heritage, and they’ve given us a deep appreciation for knowing where our food comes from and, more importantly, what’s in it.

Jake spent years in professional kitchens in Niagara as a sous chef, then ran a successful contracting/carpentry business. I always joke that he’s a real-life Remy from Ratatouille, obsessed with new flavour combinations and recipes, so our kitchen is one big science experiment. My journalism and graphic design background led me to a career as a creative director at a publishing house, designing magazines on food, weddings, interior design, travel and Niagara tourism.

Della Terra is where all of that meets. Jake renovated the shop himself and built our shelves and tables, and he still makes the little things, from charcuterie boards to place card holders. I design every label, tasting flight and wax-sealed gift box, plus bespoke labels for wedding favours. We bottle our oils and balsamics right here in St. Catharines.

Olives don’t grow in Niagara, so our extra virgin olive oils come fresh from harvests in both hemispheres, and our balsamics come from Italy. Everything else on our shelves comes from Canadian makers wherever we can find them, many of them right here in Niagara. We’re proud to be part of Niagara’s food scene, and you’ll find our oils and balsamics at a growing number of select restaurants, bakeries, wineries, cheese shops, boutiques and markets across Ontario.

We’re forever grateful to our customers, friends, family and the community of small Canadian businesses who support us. We love OLIVE of you (sorry, I had to).

Grazie di cuore,
Tina Lanzillotta & Jake Elstone