Following the announcement of the 2020 #SAOliveAwards & #AbsaTop10 Olive Oils Awards in South Africa, we are presenting a series of interviews with each Gold-winning producer.
Absa Top 10 Winner: Zoetigheyd – Frantoio
SA Olive Gold Winners: Zoetigheyd – Daniel’s Delish, Green Harvest, Intense Blend & Frantoio
Name of the oil: Frantoio
Style: Low Medium
Cultivars used for this oil: Frantoio
Litres produced: 3000 lt
Tasting notes: Fruit of green and ripe olives, grass, walnut, and tomato.
Name of the oil: Daniel’s Delish
Style: Medium
Cultivars used for this oil: Frantoio, Leccino, & Coratina
Litres produced: 2000 lt
Tasting notes: Fruit of green and ripe olives, bananas, olive and tomato leaf, and artichoke.
Name of the oil: Green Harvest
Style: Medium
Cultivars used for this oil: Frantoio, Leccino, & Coratina
Litres produced: 1500 lt
Tasting notes: Fruit of green and ripe olives, olive leaf, walnut, almond, and artichoke.
Name of the oil: Intense Blend
Style: Medium, well balanced
Cultivars used for this oil: Frantoio, Leccino, & Coratina
Litres produced: 2000 lt
Tasting notes: Green and ripe olives, artichoke, olive leaf, and almond.
Best paired with which food: The delicate aroma coupled with the full-bodied fresh flavours of the olive grove (banana, fresh tomato and olive leaf, artichoke and fresh and ripe olives) make this the gourmet chef’s delight. Its medium intensity allows it to pair perfectly with fish, light cuts of red meat, and of course it compliments any wonderful salad or steamed vegetables. It brings a slice of fresh ciabatta to life.
Producer history: Zoetigheyd lies at the foot of the Rooiberg in the Breede River Valley. Kissed by abundant sunshine, rich alluvial soil, and the sweetness of the Renosterveld, this farm produces olives of the very highest grade. These are harvested in the cool morning air and immediately pressed, resulting in the flavours of the olive grove arriving in your kitchen.
A key player in bringing you this product is Daniel who, for 15 years, has been tending the trees as farm manager. His skills as a taster are constantly being refined and he has developed a passion for blending. Peter and Daniel combine their love for the earth, farming, and commitment to quality, bringing to the market some very beautiful olive oils.
Short introduction to the oil maker & his/her comment on the 2020 harvest: Peter Unite indulged his passion for growing food and gourmet cooking 20 years ago by buying a piece of land and planting olive trees. His passion was to produce really good olive oil and at the same time build the exhausted soil into a life giving sustainable and productive farm. Over the years everything has come together as hoped and today Zoetigheyd farm produces some of the finest and healthiest olive oil in the country. Daniel, who started as a farm labourer, has been training in all aspects of olive production and is now Peter’s right hand man, managing all facets of the farm and is an astute taster too. Peter is a qualified chef, having trained in Europe and appreciates the importance of complementing great food with life giving premium grade olive oil.
Where to buy: Directly from the farm.
Tel: Peter Unite – 083 234 2706
Website: www.zoetigheyd.co.za
For more SA Olive Awards winners click here.
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