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Our expertise
An ancestral family heritage
Since its creation, Maison Guénard has developed a unique expertise.
Our oils are passionately crafted in France (Noyers-sur-Cher) by expert hands who honour traditional techniques while embracing modern innovation.
It is with meticulous care and passion that we celebrate the richness and complexity of the fruit, to reveal its very best.
Every drop of oil we produce is the result of a precise process, from the careful selection of the dried fruit to the meticulous extraction of the purest oil.
Careful selection of our dried fruit and seeds
Over the years, Maison Guénard has acquired genuine expertise in the selection of raw materials, both locally and nationally, as well as internationally.
In particular, we have developed partnerships with French producers of hemp, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts to offer a range of 100% French virgin oils.
We also have a range of 100% Centre Val de Loire origin oils co-developed with our Chef Christophe Hay: Rapeseed, Walnut & Sunflower. We're proud to promote local producers.
What's more, every year in January and February, as has been the case since our oil mill was founded, people from the Loir & Cher region bring their ‘Private Harvests’ to our oil mill to extract a particularly tasty, local oil: Centre Val de Loire Walnut Oil - Private Harvests.
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Traditional manufacturing processes
From these rigorously selected fruits, we produce gourmet oils of the highest quality, using traditional manufacturing processes.
In order to offer authentic oils, we use only four artisanal and natural manufacturing stages to produce our virgin oils:
Grinding
Usually, dried fruit and seeds are crushed using a granite millstone. This authentic artisanal process makes it possible to obtain a superior quality paste.
Pressing
In order to extract the 100% virgin oil, the paste is then pressed mechanically.
Roasting
This paste is heated in our cast iron pans or our cookers, which gives a delicately roasted character to our oils and accentuates the best flavors.
Refining
This last step produces a completely clear oil that is ready to consume.
Recognised and rewarded expertise
As a French producer of gastronomic products, we are a member of the Collège Culinaire de France (CCF). This membership is a guarantee of quality, as it confers the title of ‘Artisan Militant de la Qualité’.
Founded in 2011 by 15 renowned chefs, this institution brings together more than 2,000 restaurants and 1,000 producers.
Our oils have also won numerous awards:
- Walnut oil from France was awarded the Silver Medal at the Concours Général Agricole 2024 (also 2018, 2014, 2005, 1998 and 1996)
- French hazelnut oil was awarded the Epicure d'argent in 2017
- French almond oil was awarded the Epicure d'argent in 2016
- Walnut oil from France was awarded the Epicure d'argent 2015
- Walnut oil from France was awarded the Bronze Medal at the Concours Général Agricole 2013 (as well as in 1998)
- French hazelnut oil was voted Best of Gourmet Selection 2013
- Walnut oil from France was awarded the Gold Medal at the Concours Général Agricole 2001
And most recently, in 2024, Christophe Hay's Centre Val de Loire walnut oil (cold pressed) was awarded the bronze medal at the Concours Général Agricole.
An impeccable quality service
Since 1824, we've been putting all our know-how into making vegetable oils with excellent taste qualities, with the sole aim of satisfying our customers and consumers who love gourmet oils. Our aim is to offer top-quality products of consistent quality.
To achieve this, a quality department and analysis laboratory were set up in 1996. So, for every purchase of raw materials, we make sure that the level of quality is in line with our requirements. All the oils produced are checked in the same way before being dispatched. A sensory and clarity analysis is also carried out on each batch to guarantee consistent quality.
The Formulation of Vegetable Oils
There are different categories of oils: virgin oils (only from mechanical processes), refined oils or blends (mixture of a virgin oil and a refined oil).
Virgin Oils
These oils are only obtained through mechanical production processes. They do not undergo any processing and do not contain any additive. There are two different categories of virgin oils :
- Virgin oils obtained by cold-pressing that do not undergo cooking, such as our hempseed oil. In general, this process is used when one desires to preserve the "fresh" flavors and aromas of certain seeds or nuts.
- Virgin oils obtained by cooking and pressing that have the distinction of having toasted flavors and aromas, such as our walnut oil. This process is used for most "dried" fruit in order to enhance their gourmet flavors.
Virgin oils are of very high quality because they are exclusively derived from mechanical processes, which preserve all the naturalness of the fruit from which they are extracted. However, virgin oils from dried fruit or seeds are fragile and therefore require specific storage conditions. It is also recommended to use them cold or after cooking to retain all of their distinctive flavors and nutritional value.
Refined Oils
These oils are acquired through refining operations that eliminate the undesirable oleic acidity, odors and tastes as well as the dark color characteristic of crude oil. Thus, the neutralization, discoloration and deodorization steps produce an oil with a very low oleic acidity, a clear color as well as a neutral taste and smell.
Blending a Virgin Oil and a Refined Oil
The blending of a virgin oil and a refined oil make it possible to obtain a wide range of taste through its varied flavor intensities according to the blends. It is important to know that such a blend of vegetable oils will always be composed of oils from the same fruit. For example, for a subtle taste, Guénard offers its blend of 50% virgin walnut oil and 50% refined walnut oil.