Tag Archives: Waterfall River

Local olive oil industry is golden and growing!

South Africa has more than 100 olive oil producers, and its production has increased almost four-fold to 7000 tons in the last nine years.  The best olive oil brands were acknowledged by the S A Olive association, and Waterfall River in Franschhoek, Kleinood and Rio Largo were the top three brands to win double gold awards at the recent 2010 awards ceremony, reports Bolander.  

South Africa now produces one-third of the world’s top virgin olive oils.   At the awards function, the audience was reminded that our country’s extra virgin olive oils are superior in their quality, and that “sub-standard” imported olive oils should not be supported.  “South Africa’s olive oil industry may be relatively young but we’ve had ample time to study the industries of other countries to avoid the pitfalls and ensure that the right cultivars are planted on the right soils”, said Andries Rabe, Chairman of SA Olive.

Linda Costa of SA Olive was awarded Olive Achiever of the Year, for her focus on promoting the olive industry as well as its quality.  Her grandfather Ferdinando Costa was the first to start the olive oil industry in Paarl.   Pikkie Lourens of Olyfberg also received an Achiever Award, for her passion for the industry.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:  www.whalecottage.com

Olive oil liquid gold!

South Africa’s olive oil is top quality, and the Cape winelands are proving to not only be good for red and white wine production, but they deliver the finest olive oils as well. 

In the annual competition organised by S A Olive, Annalene du Toit of Kloovenburg  estate in the Riebeeck Valley won the 2009 ABSA Olive Achiever of the Year Award, for her “passion and contribution to the growth of the industry”, says a report in Bolander.   She also recently won the Sanlam/Landbouweekblad Woman Entrepreneur in Agriculture for 2008/9.   She offers 40 different olive-based products, including a cosmetics range which is exported.

In the commercial olive oil class, the top achievers winning gold medals were Kloovenburg, Olyfberg, Morgenster and Rio Largo.  In the boutique class, Diepsak Farm, The Greenleaf Olive Co., The Olive Lady, Muiskraal, Olyven Houdt, and Waterfall River won gold awards.  All entries for the annual awards were tasted blind.

For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in the Commercial and Boutique classes click here

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Franschhoek terroir achieves liquid gold

Terroir is equally important in producing award-winning olive oils as it is in making good quality wines.  

The 2008 S A Olive Oil award winner Burgundy Bourgogne in Franschhoek attributes its gold medal to the terroir of the Winelands Valley, offering a unique combination of the region’s soil, climate, slope and wind.    The olive oil variety harvested, and the timing of the olive harvest can also influence the quality of olive oil.

Burgundy Bourgogne’s award-winning olive oil was described as :”A fresh rich rounded aroma, full of nuances of fresh salad and nuts.   The nuttiness is carried through to the palate with a rich mouth feel.  The gentle bitterness and piquancy linger on, leaving a very pleasant after-taste.”

The S A Olive award for best table olives went to Karoo Olives from Renosterkop outside Beaufort West, winning silver for their black, flavoured and dried olives.   Reni Hildenbrand from Wellington was recognised for her passion and contribution to the development of the industry, winning the ABSA Achiever of the Year Award.

Rio Largo won the gold medal in the Delicate Extra Virgin  Olive Oil category, with Tokara: The Olive Shed and Willow Creek winning silver medals.   In the Medium Intensity category Burgundy Bourgogne, Foxenburg Estate and Olyfberg won gold, and Southern Right and Waterfall River winning silver.   In the Intensely Fruity category, gold winners were Olyven Houdt and Vesuvio, while Cascade Manor, Morgenster and Groote Vallei won silver.

The wetter weather this season has led to a softer character for the local olive oils, the judges said.