The 2023 SA Olive Awards took place at the picturesque Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl on Friday, 8th of September. All Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) that entered – 82 entries from 32 producers – have been thoroughly judged by a panel of local and international judges.

Winners were selected in Delicate, Medium and Intense style categories and the winners are as follows:

Gold Delicate:

Anysbos Olywe CC – Anysbos Olywe Extra Virgin Olive Oil Delicate
De Rustica Estate (Pty) Ltd – De Rustica Estate Collection Arbequina
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Family Reserve EVOO
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – XXV Delicate

Gold Medium:

Babylonstoren Pty Ltd – Babylonstoren Blend EVOO 2023
Babylonstoren Pty Ltd – Babylonstoren Coratina EVOO 2023
De Rustica Estate (Pty) Ltd – De Rustica Estate Collection Frantoio
De Rustica Estate (Pty) Ltd – De Rustica Estate Medium
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Lions Creek Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – XXV Medium
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Favolosa
Morgenster Estate – Don Carlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Morgenster Estate – Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Prince Albert Olives – Prince Albert Olives
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo
Rockhaven Farm – Rockhaven Farm EVOO
Willow Creek Products – Estate Blend

Gold Intense:

De Rustica Estate (Pty) Ltd – De Rustica Estate Intense
De Rustica Estate (Pty) Ltd – De Rustica Estate Collection Coratina
Het Vlock Casteel – Het Vlock Casteel Coratina
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Lions Creek Karoo Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – XXV Intense
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – XXV Intense Blend
Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm – Picual
Terre Paisible – Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Aromatique
Wereldsgeluk Olive Estate – Andante Intenso

Silver Delicate:

Darling Olives – Darling Olives Estate Blend (Fynbossie)
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Olives Delicate
Olive Boutique – Olive Boutique Frantoio
Olyfberg Vrugte – Olyfberg Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Terre Paisible – Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Délicate
Tokara – Tokara Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Wereldsgeluk Olive Estate – Andante Delicate
Willow Creek Products – Nuy Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Silver Medium:

Anysbos Olywe CC – Anysbos Olywe Extra Virgin Olive Oil Medium
Babylonstoren Pty Ltd – Babylonstoren Frantoio EVOO 2023
Darling Olives – Darling Olives EVOO
Die Klip Huis – Die Klip Huis Premium Reserve
Die Klip Huis – Die Klip Huis Medium
Duikersdrift Winelands Country Escape – Duikersdrift Frantoio Single Varietal
Het Vlock Casteel – Het Vlock Casteel Frantoio
Het Vlock Casteel – Het Vlock Casteel Favolosa
Kamerkloof Studtis Olywe Baviaanskloof – Kamerkloof Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Estate Blend EVOO
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Director’s Blend EVOO
Lapithos Olive Growers – Lapithos Olive Growers Family Reserve
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Lions Creek Don Carlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Lions Creek Favolosa Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Premium Medium
Olive Boutique – Olive Boutique Coratina Frantoio
Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm – Frantoio
Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm – Olifantsbos
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Gold
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Forage & Feast Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Greenleaf Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tokara – Pick ‘n Pay Crafted Collection
Tokara – Tokara Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tokara – Tokara Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive oil
Wereldsgeluk Olive Estate – Andante Mezzo
Zoetigheyd Farms – Zoetigheyd Frantoio

Silver Intense:

Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm – Favolosa
Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm – Ouwerfskloof
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Premium

Bronze Delicate:

Cederberg Olives – Cederberg Olives
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Lions Creek Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Morgenster Estate – Delicate – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Mount Ceder – Mount Ceder EVOO
Olyfberg Vrugte – Olyfberg Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Bronze Medium:

Denneboom Vineyards – Denneboom
Kleine Haaskraal – Kleine Haaskraal Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Morgenster Estate – Woolworths Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Olives Special Reserve
Terre Paisible – Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Modérée
Tokara – Tokara Multi-Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Bronze Intense:

Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Olives Intense
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Saint Sebastian Bay Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Willow Creek Products – Directors’ Reserve

Multiple Gold Medals:

Babylonstoren Pty Ltd (2)
De Rustica Estate (Pty) Ltd (5)
Lions Creek Olive Estate (2)
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd (5)
Morgenster Estate (2)

Richard Allen, Chairman of the SA Olive Industry says, “Once again, we congratulate all our winners. This year has been particularly challenging for our producers due to a poor harvest that saw considerably lower yields – and, by the way, this was experienced by all olive growing countries around the world this year.  Added to this, there were other daily challenges such as loadshedding, so it’s even more commendable that our local Extra Virgin Olive Oil producers continue to deliver such amazing quality – the kind of quality that earns them the highest international accolades, here and around the world. Despite the challenges, we received a total of 82 entries from 32 producers. SA Olive is both proud and delighted to represent our South African producers and to showcase their top-quality, locally produced EVOOs. We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks to all participants, judges, organisers and, of course, our two sponsors – MORI-TEM and Pieralisi.”