The Tanche olive is unique to southern part of the Drôme, and “Nyons” is the name given to the Tanche olives grown in and around the charming town of Nyons. Distinguished by their large pits, sweet meaty flavor, and lack of bitterness, Nyons olives are special enough to have earned their own AOP, or Appellation d’Origine Protégée (the French system for designating and controlling the geography and quality of wines and other products). The skin of Nyons olives is finely wrinkled, because they are harvested in December, after the ripe olives have begun to shrivel a bit with the cold.