Cortile takes its name from the courtyard. The square of shade and warm stone where a table gets set at noon and lunch turns into an afternoon.

We make for that table. A short shelf of oils, vinegars, dressings and marinades, chosen because they earn their place next to good bread and a bowl of greens. Nothing here is made in a hurry, and nothing is on the shelf because it was cheap to put there.

How we choose

Every bottle has to pass three tests before it reaches this shop. It has to taste like what it says it is. It has to be made by people who are proud to say how they made it. And it has to be worth opening on an ordinary Tuesday, not only for guests.

Small on purpose

We would rather carry twelve bottles we can talk about than two hundred we cannot. If you ever want to know where something came from or how to use it, write to us and you will get a real answer.