The Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl in the Western Cape served as the elegant backdrop for the 2023 SA Olive Awards. The event, held yesterday, showcased the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of the country’s extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) from 32 renowned producers, with a total of 82 entries rigorously evaluated by a panel of esteemed local and international judges.
In a ceremony filled with anticipation and celebration, the winners were revealed across three style categories: delicate, medium, and intense.
Chairperson of the SA Olive Industry, Richard Allen, congratulated all the winners and acknowledged the challenges faced by local producers during the year, including a poor harvest with lower yields and daily obstacles like load shedding.
Despite these challenges, South African extra virgin olive oil producers continued to deliver remarkable quality, earning recognition not only locally but also on the international stage. The 82 entries from 32 producers demonstrated their commitment to excellence and dedication to their craft.
SA Olive expressed its pride and gratitude to all participants, judges, organizers, and sponsors, MORI-TEM and Pieralisi, for their support in showcasing the exceptional quality of locally produced EVOOs.
Gold award winners
Delicate category:
- Anysbos Olywe for Anysbos Olywe Extra Virgin Olive Oil Delicate
- De Rustica Estate for De Rustica Estate Collection Arbequina
- Kleinbergskloof for Kleinbergskloof Family Reserve EVOO
- Mardouw Investments ZA for XXV Delicate
Medium category:
- Babylonstoren for Babylonstoren Blend EVOO 2023 and Babylonstoren Coratina EVOO 2023
- De Rustica Estate for De Rustica Estate Collection Frantoio and De Rustica Estate Medium
- Lions Creek Olive Estate for Lions Creek Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Mardouw Investments ZA for XXV Medium and Favolosa
- Morgenster Estate for Don Carlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Prince Albert Olives for Prince Albert Olives
- Rio Largo Olive Estate for Rio Largo
- Rockhaven Farm for Rockhaven Farm EVOO
- Willow Creek Products for Estate Blend
Intense category:
- De Rustica Estate for De Rustica Estate Intense and De Rustica Estate Collection Coratina
- Het Vlock Casteel for Het Vlock Casteel Coratina
- Lions Creek Olive Estate for Lions Creek Karoo Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Mardouw Investments ZAfor XXV Intense and XXV Intense Blend
- Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm for Picual
- Terre Paisible for Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Aromatique
- Wereldsgeluk Olive Estate for Andante Intenso
Silver award winners
Delicate category:
- Darling Olives for Darling Olives Estate Blend (Fynbossie)
- Oakhurst Olives for Oakhurst Olives Delicate
- Olive Boutique for Olive Boutique Frantoio
- Olyfberg Vrugte for Olyfberg Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Terre Paisible for Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Délicate
- Tokara for Tokara Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Wereldsgeluk Olive Estate for Andante Delicate
- Willow Creek Products for Nuy Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Medium category:
- Anysbos Olywe for Anysbos Olywe Extra Virgin Olive Oil Medium
- Babylonstoren for Babylonstoren Frantoio EVOO 2023
- Darling Olives for Darling Olives EVOO
- Die Klip Huis for Die Klip Huis Premium Reserve and Die Klip Huis Medium
- Duikersdrift Winelands Country Escape for Duikersdrift Frantoio & Coratina Blend and Duikersdrift Frantoio Single Varietal
- Het Vlock Casteel for Het Vlock Casteel Frantoio and Het Vlock Casteel Favolosa
- Kamerkloof Studtis Olywe Baviaanskloof for Kamerkloof Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Kleinbergskloof for Kleinbergskloof Estate Blend EVOO and Kleinbergskloof Director’s Blend EVOO
- Lapithos Olive Growers for Lapithos Olive Growers Family Reserve
- Lions Creek Olive Estate for Lions Creek Don Carlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Lions Creek Favolosa Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd for Premium Medium
- Olive Boutique for Olive Boutique Coratina Frantoio
- Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm for Frantoio and Olifantsbos
- Rio Largo Olive Estate for Rio Largo Gold
- The Greenleaf Olive Company for Forage & Feast Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Greenleaf Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Tokara for Pick ‘n Pay Crafted Collection, Tokara Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Tokara Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive oil
- Wereldsgeluk Olive Estate for Andante Mezzo
- Zoetigheyd Farms for Zoetigheyd Frantoio
Bronze award winners
Delicate category:
- Cederberg Olives for Cederberg Olives
- Lions Creek Olive Estate for Lions Creek Frantoio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Morgenster Estate for Delicate – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Mount Ceder for Mount Ceder EVOO
- Olyfberg Vrugte for Olyfberg Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Medium category:
- Denneboom Vineyards for Denneboom
- Kleine Haaskraal for Kleine Haaskraal Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Morgenster Estate for Woolworths Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Oakhurst Olives for Oakhurst Olives Special Reserve
- Terre Paisible for Terre Paisible Extra Virgin Olive Oil Modérée
- Tokara for Tokara Multi-Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Oakhurst Olives for Oakhurst Olives Intense
- The Greenleaf Olive Company for Saint Sebastian Bay Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Willow Creek Products for Directors’ Reserve
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