The winners of the 2021 SA Olive Awards were announced earlier today at an exclusive gala function held at Webersburg Wine Estate near Stellenbosch.
The SA Olive Awards, a premier fixture on the South African olive industry calendar, acknowledges the commitment and the strive for excellence that characterises our local olive oil industry.
Following many months of hard work, which culminated in the autumn harvest, 46 South African olive oil producers submitted a total of 113 of their best Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) to be judged.
All 113 EVOOs were rigorously and professionally assessed and judged during an extensive five-day blind tasting by professional taster and Panel Leader, Aldo Mazzini from Italy, and five local tasters and judges – Reni Hildenbrand, Jackie Loubser, Benedetta Lami, Marlene Loubser and Michelle Kruger.
And the awards go to…
DELICATE CATEGORY
Gold medal winners
Kleinbergskloof Estate Blend, Olive Boutique Frantoio, Willow Creek Nuy Valley EVOO.
Silver medal winners
Cederberg Olives Frantoio, De Rustica Collection: Arbequina, De Rustica Estate Delicate, Kleinbergskloof Frantoio, Lapithos Pure, Lions Creek Arbequina EVOO, Mont Rouge Owners Reserve, Mount Ceder EVOO, Rio Largo Gold, Willow Creek Mission EVOO.
Bronze medal winners
Boschendal Olive Oil, Het Bos Olives, Mardouw XXV Delicate, Oakhurst Delicate, Vigne d’Or Blend.
MEDIUM CATEGORY
Gold medal winners
De Rustica Collection: Frantoio, De Rustica Estate Medium, Galenia Estate – Estate Blend, Kadimah Olive Estate Artois Olive Oil SANTÉ, Kamerkloof Studtis Estate Kamerkloof, Lapithos Family Reserve, Lions Creek Karoo Blend EVOO, Mardouw Premium Medium, Morgenster EVOO, Morgenster WW EVOO, Namaqua Olives & Olive Oil EVOO (blue tube), Oudewerfskloof Favioso, PG Fruit Pai Parakore EVOO, Porterville Andante Intenso, Rio Largo Black Label, Serrado EVOO, Tokara Estate EVOO, Tokara Premium EVOO, Wildekrans Endless EVOO, Wildekrans Field Blend EVOO, Zoetigheyd Frantoio.
Silver medal winners
Babylonstoren EVOO Coratina, De Hut EVOO Frantoio, Duikersdrift Frantoio, Duikersdrift Frantoio/Coratina Blend, Galenia Estate – Directors Blend, Galenia Estate – Premium Directors, Kadimah Olive Estate Artois Olive Oil LUD, Kleinbergskloof Family Reserve, Kleinood De Boerin, Kredouw Olive Estate Favolosa, Lions Creek Favolosa EVOO, Lions Creek Picual EVOO, Mont Rouge Assegaay Reserve, Mont Rouge Karoo Reserve, Morgenster Don Carlo, Namaqua Olives & Olive Oil EVOO, Nomu Brands EVOO, Oakhurst Special Reserve, Olyfberg Blend, Oudewerfskloof Olifantsbos, Oudewerfskloof Ouwerfskloof, PG Fruit EVOO, Porterville Andante Mezzo, Prince Albert Karoo Blend, Tokara Frantoio EVOO, Tokara Mission EVOO, Tokara Multi-varietal EVOO, Vigne d’Or Coratina, Wildekrans Keer Weer EVOO, Willow Creek Estate Blend EVOO, Willow Creek Faithful to Nature EVOO.
Bronze medal winners
Anysbos Olywe, Chaloner Mountain Oil EVOO, Het Vlock Casteel Vlok Blend, Kredouw Olive Estate Frantoio, Lions Creek Don Carlo EVOO, Namaqua Olives & Olive Oil EVOO Frantoio Limited Release, Olive Boutique Frantoio-Coratina, Olyfberg Leccino, Petra Olives Olive Oil, Riverbend EVOO Mission, The Greenleaf Olive Company Food Lovers, The Greenleaf Olive Company Spar Authentic, Zoetigheyd Farm Fresh.
INTENSE CATEGORY
Gold medal winners
De Rustica Collection: Coratina, De Rustica Estate Intense, Mardouw XXV Intense, Porterville Andante Forte, Rio Largo Premium, Willow Creek Directors Reserve EVOO.
Silver medal winners
De Hut EVOO Coratina, Mont Rouge 33° South, Olive Boutique Coratina-Leccino, The Greenleaf Olive Company Forage & Feast, Willow Creek Coratina EVOO, Willow Creek Frantoio EVOO.
Bronze medal winners
Marbrin Directors Reserve Intense EVOO, Oakhurst Intense, The Greenleaf Olive Company St Sebastian, Vigne d’Or Grande Reserve.
Italian Panel Leader Aldo Mazzini commented: “I can say that during the competition we found a good percentage of very high quality oils with complexity, harmony and character. These are oils that I like to compare to the great paintings of the Impressionists: EVOOs with great colours able to arouse emotions and colour the dishes of any table in the world”.
SA Olive Manager Vittoria Jooste commended EVOO producers for achieving the high standards of production that are reflected in the results achieved. Vittoria added that SA Olive’s Commitment to Compliance (CTC) scheme enables producers to benchmark their newly-harvested EVOOs within a quality framework that is modelled on international standards. Hence for consumers, the CTC seal is an assurance of the quality of local EVOO.
Behind The Scenes:
Each olive oil entry was conscientiously explored and assessed for the complexities of aroma and flavour and the balance of fruity, bitter and pungent attributes, in the search for the very best of South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO).
The standard of South African olive oils is generally very high and compares well with the best EVOOs in the world; this makes an award received in this annual olive oil competition not only an accolade for the producer but also an assurance for consumers that they will be buying the best EVOO available in South Africa.
The Absa Top 10 Awards will be taking place on the 15th October 2021. The qualifiers for the Absa Top 10 are selected from the ranks of the highest-scoring SA Olive Awards medal winners by a team of revered tasters.
SA Olive would like to thank Amenduni, MORI-TEM and Pieralisi for their contribution in furthering the South African olive oil industry through their sponsorship of the 2021 SA Olive Awards.
