2024 SA Olive Award Winners Announced

10 September 2024: All South African Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) entered into the 2024 SA Olive Awards have been judged and the winners of medals in the Delicate, Medium and Intense style categories are:

Bronze Medium:

Denneboom Vineyards – Denneboom Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Het Vlock Casteel – Het Vlock Casteel Mission
Kransfontein Estate – Kransfontein Estate Coratina
Kransfontein Estate – Kransfontein Director’s Reserve
Lettas Kraal Farm – Early Harvest Field Blend
Lettas Kraal Farm – Medium Harvest Signature Blend
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Don Carlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Matjiesvlei Cottages – Middelplaas Matjiesvlei
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Forage & Feast Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Silver Delicate:

Diemersfontein – Diemersfontein Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Errigal Farm – Errigal EVOO
Brummero Trust t/a Oudewerfskloof – Frantoio
Brummero Trust t/a Oudewerfskloof – Leccino
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw Premium Delicate
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw XXV Delicate
“Ouma Se Huis” Boutique Olive Estate – Charisma 1
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Delicate 2024
Porterville Olives (Pty) Ltd – Andante Delicate
Rockhaven Farm – Rockhaven EVOO
Tokara – Tokara Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Willow Creek Olive Estate – Nuy Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Silver Medium:

Babylonstoren – Babylonstoren EVOO Blend 2024
Babylonstoren – Babylonstoren EVOO Coratina 2024
Babylonstoren – Babylonstoren EVOO Frantoio 2024
Darling Olives (Pty) Ltd – Fynbossie
De Boerin – De Boerin Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2024
Die Kliphuis – Die Kliphuis OK
Die Kliphuis – Die Kliphuis MP
Friesland Farm – Friesland Premium Multi-Varietal EVOO
Brummero Trust t/a Oudewerfskloof – Favolosa
Het Vlock Casteel – Het Vlock Casteel Coratina
Het Vlock Casteel – Het Vlock Casteel Leccino
IIC SA Properties (Pty) Ltd t/a Galenia Estate – Directors Blend
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Estate Blend
Kransfontein Estate – Kransfontein Estate Frantoio
Kransfontein Estate – Kransfontein Estate Mission
Lamara 2 Rivers (Pty) Ltd – Lamara
Lapithos Olive Growers – Lapithos Estate Frantoio
Lapithos Olive Growers – Lapithos Estate Reserve
Lettas Kraal Farm – Early Harvest Single Cultivar
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil
L’Ormarins Estate – Terra Del Capo Blend
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw Premium Medium
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw XXV Medium Limited Edition
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo (Black Label)
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Special Reserve 2024
Olive Boutique – Coratina
Olive Boutique – Nocellara Leccino
Petra Olives – Petra Olive EVOO Reserve
Petra Olives – Petra Olive EVOO
Porterville Olives (Pty) Ltd – Andante Forte
Serrado Olive Estate (Pty) Ltd – Serrado Olive Estate
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Greenleaf Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Spar Signature Selection Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tokara – Tokara Woolworths Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tokara – Tokara Multi-Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Willow Creek Olive Estate – Estate Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Silver Intense:

Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Director’s Blend
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw XXV Intense
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw XXV Intense Blend
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Gold (Gold Label)
Terre Paisible (Pty) Ltd – Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Aromatique
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Saint Sebastian Bay Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tokara – Tokara Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Gold Delicate:

Darling Olives (Pty) Ltd – Darling Olives EVOO
De Rustica Estate – Estate Collection Arbequina
“Ouma Se Huis” Boutique Olive Estate – Charisma 2
Olive Boutique – Frantoio
Terre Paisible (Pty) Ltd – Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Delicate
Tokara – Tokara Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Gold Medium:

Chaloner SA (CC) – Chaloner Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chaloner SA (CC) – The Peregrine Limited Edition
De Rustica Estate – Estate Collection Coratina
De Rustica Estate – Estate Range Medium
Brummero Trust t/a Oudewerfskloof – Coratina
Brummero Trust t/a Oudewerfskloof – Picual
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Director’s Blend
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Family Reserve
Lapithos Olive Growers – Lapithos Estate Mission
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Favolosa Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Karoo Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Lions Creek Olive Estate – Coratina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
L’Ormarins Estate – L’Ormarins Blend
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw XXV Medium
Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd – Mardouw Favolosa
Morgenster Estate – Morgenster Don Carlo
Morgenster Estate – Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Premiun (White Label)
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Premium Reserve 2024
Porterville Olives (Pty) Ltd – Andante Mezzo
Porterville Olives (Pty) Ltd – Andante Intenso
Terre Paisible (Pty) Ltd – Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Medium
Twenty60 Think Future Holdings – Haaskraal Farm – Haaskraal Coratina
Twenty60 Think Future Holdings – Haaskraal Farm – Haaskraal Koroneiki

Gold Intense:

De Rustica Estate – Estate Collection Favolosa
De Rustica Estate – Estate Range Intense
Willow Creek Olive Estate – Directors Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In her statement following the event, Wendy Petersen, the CEO of the SA Olive Association, expressed her deep appreciation, saying, “We would like to extend our warm heartfelt thanks to all the winners, participants, judges, organizers, and our key sponsors – The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Berlin Packaging, MORI – TEM, African Cellar Suppliers, The Olive Specialists, Pieralisi, Woolworths South Africa, Old Mutual, PELLENC and RX Group – for their unwavering support in making this event a successful and memorable occasion. A special thank you goes out to our incredible MC, the Giggling Gourmet herself, celebrity chef Jenny Morris. Her warmth, charisma, and delightful presence added an extra layer of joy to our event, making the day even more memorable for everyone involved.”

As part of the ceremony this year, Basil Koopman from Ouderwerfskloof was awarded the prestigious 2024 ‘Agri-Worker of the Year’ award for continually showcasing exceptional skills, dedication, and commitment. This annual and significant industry award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding contributions of agricultural workers excelling in their roles within South Africa’s olive and Extra Virgin Olive Oil industry. In addition to the award, the Agri-Worker winner and three finalists received a series of prizes, including a cash gift courtesy of Old Mutual and complimentary entry to the SA Olive Introduction Olive Oil course in 2025.

‘Agri-Worker of the Year’ 2024 Winner: Basil Koopman

The 19^th annual SA Olive Awards took place on the 10th of September 2024 at Franschhoek Cellar in Franschhoek. This momentous event celebrates the best Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) in South Africa and acknowledges the exceptional producers who demonstrate continual commitment to creating the highest quality EVOOs. This year, the awards received 99 entries from 37 producers.

The highest-scoring gold medal winners from the SA Olive Awards are entered into a further round of judging and the top Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) will be selected for the Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, which will take place in October 2024. Keep an eye out for these updates.