Rocío Soriano & Charles Rabiller
From City Life to the Heart of the Olive Lands
Rocío and Charles are the heart and hands behind a stunning olive grove, Finca El Trueno, in Arbuniel, Jaén. They’re the real-life definition of “power couple” whose story is one of shared dreams, immense effort, and a deep respect for the land, intertwined with a fair share of adventures. It’s also a living example of ‘going back to nature’ after years of busy city life.
Different Roots Branching into One Shared Dream
Rocío grew up in Jaén, the world’s olive oil capital, where harvest seasons in her grandfather’s grove planted the seeds of her love for olive trees. Life took her to bustling cities, studying and working across Europe before settling in Barcelona for a career in tourism—an effortless fit for her vibrant energy. (You would understand what I mean the moment you meet her!)
Charles, from Vendée, France, worked as a software engineer but longed for a deeper connection to nature. Over time, both he and Rocío felt the pull to return to the land, and together, they embarked on a shared dream of running an olive grove.
In 2017, they turned that dream into reality, acquiring a 7-hectare grove in Arbuniel, a mountain village in Jaén. With 1,200 Picual olive trees thriving in a lush valley, Finca el Trueno was born.
Leaving behind the comforts of city life, they chose to build a new reality that requires courage, resilience, and dedication. For years now, they’ve been living their inspiring dream and creating something truly special.
Co-Creating with Nature
Their grove is more than just a farm, it’s a living ecosystem, as it should be. Alongside their olive trees, you’ll find Margarita and Amparito, their donkeys, who play an important role in maintaining the grove - very happily grazing and fertilizing the land 🙂 It’s a true win-win situation!
While they’ve been certified organic for years, their farming philosophy goes well beyond the basics of organic certification. Their approach is all about sustainability and working in harmony with nature, aiming to create a thriving ecosystem rather than merely a productive farm. Starting without any prior farming experience, they have devoted themselves to learning and applying techniques that support the health and vitality of their trees and land. Every step they take—from nurturing the soil and trees to harvesting olives with the utmost care—is deliberate and guided by their commitment to quality and sustainability. This holistic approach is the very essence of Finca el Trueno. This is why we adore them 🙂
How We Met
We first met Rocío and Charles when my partner and I were living in Jaén. As Rocío tackled her English and I polished my Spanish, we spent hours talking and quickly became friends.
Their grove was the very first one we ever worked on during an olive harvest, and the experience was unforgettable. It also happened to fall on National Women Farmers’ Day (October 15th)—a fun coincidence that allowed me to truly celebrate the day by working alongside an inspiring female farmer!
We started at sunrise, using small, hand-harvesting machines to gently collect the olives. Each batch was placed in small boxes to prevent bruising and loaded straight into a refrigerated truck to preserve freshness in the sweltering October heat (yes, it can still reach 30°C!). Within hours, the olives were already at the mill.
Everything was carried out with precision, care, and strong teamwork. At midday, we paused for a well-deserved break with refreshing drinks, delicious Spanish appetizers, and plenty of laughs that helped us power through the day.
That experience taught us how challenging - and rewarding - it is to create not just olive oil, but truly exceptional, artfully crafted premium extra virgin olive oil.
Never Not Growing: Passion and Future Plans
Rocío and Charles’ efforts and craftsmanship are validated by various national and international awards, a testament to their dedication to producing the highest-quality olive oil. But they don’t stop there. They’re always looking for ways to improve, from refining their tasting skills to studying better milling techniques or even beekeeping!
Now, they’re leveling up even more with plans to build their own mill and take full control of the milling process (spoiler alert!). With the motto of “once an engineer, always an engineer”; Charles, who’s diving deep into the science of olive oil, is studying to become a Master Miller. Because why stop at great when you can aim for extraordinary?
Looking ahead, Rocío and Charles plan to introduce oleoturismo to their grove. Combining Rocío’s professional background in tourism and their passion for sustainable olive oil production, visitors will experience the magic of their grove firsthand.
When I first envisioned Grovehood, Rocío and Charles were the first producers who came to mind. Their values—quality, sustainability, and a deep respect for nature—align perfectly with everything Grovehood Collective stands for. Their delicious Picual isn’t just a favorite for us; it’s a hit with all our friends and family who’ve shared a meal at our table. We’re proud to share this beloved Picual with you—a product born of passion and hard work.
