81 locally produced extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) received medals at the SA Olive awards ceremony this year, which received 93 olive oil entries.
Chairman of SA Olive Nick Wilkinson said that “even against the backdrop of various challenges, South Africa still makes world-class oils deserving of the international accolades they receive.”
Oils were individually blind-tasted and rated over a period of four days. Blue-hued glasses, shaped to create the best sensory experience, were used in an environment that was temperature controlled, as well as devoid as possible of any interfering environmental factors.
Second-time judge for the competition José Mingo, from Chile, remarked on the unique fresh-cut grass and wild herb qualities of the South African EVOOs. He went on to say: “South African producers can comfortably market their oils internationally with these distinctive flavour profiles as an element of differentiation in the market.”
And the 2019 top honours go to:
Delicate extra virgin olive oils:
Darling Olives
Lapithos Olive Growers
Oakhurst Olives
Medium extra virgin olive oils:
Anysbos Olywe
Avenue Park (Pty) Ltd
Babylonstoren
De Rustica Estate
Mardouw Investments
Morgenster
Oakhurst Olives
PG Fruit
Porterville Olives
Tokara
Vigne d’Or
Wildekrans
Zoetigheyd Farms
Intense extra virgin olive oils:
De Rustica EstateMardouw InvestmentsOlive Boutique.
The full lists of silver and bronze winners are available at SAOLIVE.
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