Greek Olive Oils win 61 awards at TerraOlivo competition in Israel

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
Greek Olive Oils win 61 awards at TerraOlivo competition in Israel29 judges tasted 471 oils from 20 countries at the 2019 TerraOlivo Mediterranean International Olive Oil Competition in Israel

By Lisa Radinovsky

At the 2019 TerraOlivo Mediterranean International Olive Oil Competition in Israel, 29 judges tasted 471 oils from 20 countries. Greek extra virgin olive oils were honored with 1 Top Ten award, 2 Special awards, 19 Grand Prestige Gold awards, 14 Prestige Golds, 14 Golds, and 11 Packaging Design awards. Some of the Greek winners discussed their triumphs.

The top Greek winner, Papadopoulos Olive Oil Mediterre, “always strives for perfection,” according to Eva Papadopoulou. They aim for their extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) from near Ancient Olympia “to be close to the first position worldwide.” The results have been impressive. This year at TerraOlivo, Papadopoulos Olive Oil Mediterre took home a Top 10 award, a Best of Greece distinction, and Grand Prestige Gold and Best Bottle Design awards for Mythocia Omphacium Early Harvest EVOO, two more Grand Prestige Golds for Mythocia Alea Organic EVOO and Mythocia Olympia Organic EVOO, and a Prestige Gold for Mythocia Lena.

Papadopoulou says four years of success in international competitions have provided experience that helps them prepare for the challenges of each harvest. In this “very difficult year for Greece” because of the olive fly, gloeosporium, and the weather, Papadopoulou believes her team’s accomplishments can be attributed to their “persistence, passion, and tests during the harvest season.”

Another special award, the Best of Crete distinction, went to Cretanthos for their Early Harvest Organic Olive Oil, a healthy high phenolic Protected Designation of Origin EVOO which also received a Grand Prestige Gold award. George Tzianoudakis told Greek Liquid Gold that his team’s passion, hard work, and high standards form “the basis for products of top quality and unsurpassed taste.” He is part of the fourth generation to continue “the family tradition of olive oil production without pesticides. We are committed to quality from production to consumption, because our olive oil is our history!"

As Tzianoudakis added, “many people from all over the world travel to Greece every year to experience Greek culture and Greek cuisine through a feast of flavors and aromas with pure, excellent quality food. For us, giving consumers the best from our ancestors’ land is a lifelong goal.” 

Also from Crete, Eftychios Androulakis’s Pamako captured two Grand Prestige Gold awards for Pamako Organic Blend Mountain EVOO and Pamako Organic Monovarietal Mountain EVOO, as well as Best Bottle Design awards for both. Androulakis shares with his colleague Michalis Marakas a passionate determination “to create better and better organic EVOO every year.” He adds, “we are both obsessed with performing new experiments using new technology,” including their own inventions, so they can learn and improve constantly. Their goal is excellent tasting, very healthy high phenolic olive oil with a long shelf life. Their result is “better awards every year.”

Extending their own long list of awards, AGRO.VIM. S.A. took home two Grand Prestige Golds for Iliada Organic and Iliada PDO Kalamata, plus a Gold award for Iliada Truffle Flavor olive oil condiment. Vasiliki Konstantopoulou considers this “a great success, and at the same time it is proof” that they can continue offering high quality extra virgin olive oils even in a difficult crop year. As George Xakoustos added, “it is our commitment to authenticity, origin, and tradition, supported by science, ingenuity, and investments in equipment, facilities, and people that make the difference.”

Sakellaropoulos Organic Farms also claimed two Grand Prestige Gold awards for their Agourelaio Organic EVOO and their unique Gemstone Blend flavored olive oil with ginger, lime, and basil. These were their 25th and 26th awards for the 2018/19 harvest year, all for the taste, quality, and health benefits of their olive products. Nikos Sakellaropoulos attributes this striking achievement to his family’s hard work, “dedication, constant efforts for 27 years, experience, know how, continuous learning, and scientific monitoring,” as well as their “good practices at the olive orchard and passion for the highest possible quality.”

Another conscientious multi award winning company, Hellenic Agricultural Enterprises, captured a Grand Prestige Gold for ACAIA Organic EVOO and a Prestige Gold for ACAIA EVOO, as well as two more awards for their flavored oils, a Prestige Gold for ACAIA Flavored with Lemon and Oregano, and a Gold for ACAIA Flavored with Grapefruit and Bergamot. Ellie Tragakes told Greek Liquid Gold such awards encourage her team “to work hard to do even better next year. We feel that in the past very difficult year our success has been mainly due to our foresight regarding the protection of our olive trees.”

Tragakes believes “the numerous Greek awards at all the international competitions” suggest “the Greek olive oil sector has developed a professionalism that permits maintenance of very high standards in olive oil quality,” although this requires great vigilance with “the protection and care they must provide to their trees.” Multi award winner Peter J. Liokareas agrees that “the fact that success was not specific to one particular region shows that other producers are also successfully battling the unknown elements just like we are.”

For Liokareas Olive Oil, the result was a Grand Prestige Gold for their Liokareas Late Harvest Lemon olive oil condiment, 2 Prestige Golds for Liokareas Early Harvest EVOO and Liokareas Estate Grown Orange flavored olive oil, plus a Gold for Liokareas Wild Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The reason for all these prizes? “Our passion, determination, and hard work,” according to Liokareas, never giving up on quality under any circumstances. “Every year we learn something new” and improve. “Our passion to always be better than we were the previous season is critical if we are to continue to produce award winning olive oil.” 

Also determined to produce better EVOO each year, Terra Creta continued this year’s striking winning streak with a Grand Prestige Gold award for their new Grand Cru EVOO, a Prestige Gold for Terra Creta Estate EVOO, and a Best Bottle Design award for the Grand Cru. Emmanouil Karpadakis explained to Greek Liquid Gold that significant additions to their mill complemented their usual painstaking, nonstop efforts to achieve excellent quality. Karpadakis reported that Terra Creta’s Grand Cru surprised expert international tasters with the exquisitely balanced, complex flavor and aroma created using Koroneiki olives in Crete. 

“Originally published on Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (greekliquidgold.com). See that site for recipes with olive oil, photos from Greece, and olive oil news and information.”

 Photo Source: greekliquidgold.com

 

 

Tornos
  1. 28/03 18:41

    Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups

  2. 28/03 17:32

    Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form

  3. 28/03 15:46

    Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network

  4. 28/03 14:44

    IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece

  5. 28/03 11:49

    IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects

  6. 26/03 23:51

    St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ

  7. 26/03 21:59

    PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination

  8. 26/03 17:56

    Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros

  9. 26/03 11:45

    Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council

  10. 23/03 17:43

    New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31

  11. 23/03 16:49

    Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend

  12. 23/03 16:47

    Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm

  13. 22/03 21:54

    US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever

  14. 22/03 19:51

    High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece

  15. 22/03 19:32

    Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece

  16. 22/03 14:19

    Greece to take part in Earth Hour on Saturday

  17. 22/03 00:24

    Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress

  18. 22/03 00:02

    Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle

  19. 21/03 22:41

    Greek Finance Ministry tightens Golden Visa rules

  20. 21/03 15:33

    Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens

  21. 20/03 22:48

    Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries

  22. 20/03 21:52

    Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens

  23. 20/03 21:44

    Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote

  24. 20/03 20:55

    Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance

  25. 20/03 18:01

    Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece

  26. 19/03 22:28

    President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens

  27. 19/03 20:57

    Greek Tourism Minιster meets Hellenic Chamber of Hotels

  28. 19/03 20:25

    FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy

  29. 19/03 11:15

    Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin

  30. 18/03 22:20

    American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President

  31. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  32. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  33. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  34. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  35. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  36. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  37. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  38. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  39. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  40. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  41. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  42. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  43. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  44. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  45. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  46. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  47. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  48. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  49. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  50. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  51. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  52. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  53. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  54. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  55. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  56. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  57. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  58. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  59. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  60. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  61. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  62. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  63. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  64. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  65. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  66. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  67. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  68. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  69. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  70. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  71. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  72. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  73. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  74. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  75. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  76. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  77. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  78. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  79. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  80. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  81. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  82. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  83. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  84. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  85. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  86. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  87. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  88. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  89. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  90. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  91. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  92. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  93. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  94. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  95. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  96. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  97. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  98. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  99. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  100. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April