In a record-breaking year for the olive oil industry, it has a number of firsts, in that it produced 30% more olive oil this year than in 2019, and that 97% of the 104 olive oil brands entering the 2020 SA Olive Oil Awards, with their sub-brands, received a Gold, Silver, and/or Bronze medal. For the first time in the history of the Awards the event was held virtually.
Before an olive oil brand could be entered into the competition, it had to be certified as an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) – the highest quality grade for an olive oil. These oils were tested by a panel of taste experts, and upon qualifying as an EVOO, they received the SA Olive CTC seal. The CTC seal assures consumers that they are buying a fresh and locally produced pure extra virgin olive oil.
Reni Hildenbrand, master olive oil taster, evaluated the entries for the 14th year as a judge on the SA Olive Awards tasting panel. She commented that ‘the amount of gold medals reflects the quality of the oils and there were many oils with unique flavour profiles that included tropical fruit, herbs, nuts and floral flavours.’ She also lauded the very good ‘mouth feel’ and overall balance of the entrees.
Nick Wilkinson, SA Olive Chairman, had high praise for his fellow producers. He said that ‘our producers need to be congratulated on once again producing world-class oils in testing times, whilst adhering to stringent lockdown measures during harvesting. We don’t need to stand back for anyone on the international olive oil stage and we should operate as a united front in educating consumers about the benefits of premium quality, locally produced products – local is lekker! We salute all the participants for a job well done’.
Of the 104 EVOOs entered into the 2020 SA Olive Awards, 20 received bronze medals, 47 silver medals and 34 gold medals. Some olive oil estates were multiple medal winners in the various categories:
Bronze medal winners
De Hut Olive Farm (2 x bronze), Gabriëlskloof, Galenia Estate (2 x bronze), Het Bos Olives, Kadimah Olive Estate, Kransfontein Landgoed, Lions Creek Olive Estate (2 x bronze), Marbrin Olive Growers, Olijvenhof Olive Estate (2 x bronze), Porterville Olives (2 x bronze), The Greenleaf Olive Company, Three Sisters Montpellier, Vigne d’Or, and Willow Creek Products (2 x bronze).
Silver medal winners
Anysbos, Babylonstoren (2 x silver), Duikersdrift, Exdiem, Fraaigelegen Farm (2 x silver), Gabriëlskloof, Galenia Estate, Groote Vallei, Het Vlock Casteel, Kadimah Olive Estate (2 x silver), Kloovenburg Olives, Kransfontein Landgoed (3 x silver), L’Ormarins, Lapithos Olive Growers, Lions Creek Olive Estate (3 x silver), Marbrin Olive Growers (2 x silver), Mardouw Investments ZA, Mount Ceder Pty Ltd, Oakhurst Olives (3 x silver), Olive Boutique (2 x silver), Oudewerfskloof, PG Fruit Olives, Porterville Olives, Rio Largo Olive Estate, Rockhaven Farm, Stadsig, The Greenleaf
Olive Company, Tokara (4 x silver), Vigne d’Or (2 x silver), Wildekrans, Willow Creek Products, and Zoetigheyd.
Gold medal winners
Babylonstoren, Cederberg Olives, Chaloner (2 x gold), De Hut Olive Farm (2 x gold), Fraaigelegen Farm, Friesland Farm, Kleinbergskloof Olive Estate (3 x gold), Kleine Haaskraal, L’Ormarins, Lapithos Olive Growers, Mardouw Investments ZA, Morgenster (3 x gold), Olive Boutique (2 x gold), Oudewerfskloof (2 x gold), PG Fruit Olives, Porterville Olives, Rio Largo Olive Estate (2 x gold), Serrado Olive Estate, Tokara, Wildekrans (2 x gold), and Zoetigheyd (4 x gold).
ADHARA EVOO is an olive oil brand produced by Fraaigelegen Farm in Tulbagh, which we have presented to the Women Restaurateurs in Cape Town and the Winelands, in recognition of their tenacity in running their restaurants in a male-dominated industry, much like the ADHARA producer Venishree Mayer is the first Indian olive oil producer operating similarly in a male-dominated industry. ADHARA won two Silver and one Gold Award this year.
The local olive oil industry has shown its mettle through droughts and pandemics, and continues to honour its quality commitment to consumers, whilst standing shoulder-to-shoulder with its international counterparts, stated the Awards media release of SA Olive.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide
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