Greek olive oils shine at Olivinus Competition in Argentina

By Lisa Radinovsky

At the 2019 Olivinus International Olive Oil Competition in Mendoza, Argentina in early September, Greek extra virgin olive oils won 10 quality awards, while Greek flavored olive oil condiments took home 7 prizes. This was an especially impressive showing in a competition with 194 olive oils from 18 countries, many of them from the Southern Hemisphere.

The Greek accomplishments at Olivinus are particularly noteworthy because the 12 judges were considering Greek olive oils from last autumn’s harvest alongside many fresh South American oils. Since the Southern Hemisphere’s olive harvest takes place from March to July, while the Northern Hemisphere’s harvest begins in the European autumn, the South Americans had the advantage of fresher olive oils. Freshness often means more striking flavors and aromas compared with an earlier season’s oils.

With 8 exceptional entries from last autumn’s harvest and a 100% success rate, Sakellaropoulos Organic Farms was the top Greek winner at Olivinus this year. Five of their olive oils were awarded the top distinction of Grand Prestige Gold, while 3 received Gold awards. The Sakellaropoulos team considers this especially significant since “Olivinus is now the most important competition in Latin America and in the Southern Hemisphere countries in general.”

Their latest awards bring the total to an amazing 126 prizes for Sakellaropoulos Organic Farms, which they point out is “a unique record for a Greek single-estate producer of organic olives and olive oil.” Nick Sakellaropoulos adds that they “are very proud that our olive oils were awarded with top scores at Olivinus 2019. It is the first time in the 12 years since the beginning of the competition that a Greek company and Greek olive oils have been distinguished with so many and such important awards.”

Their Oleoastron flavored olive oil received 97/100 points, while their new Gemstone blend flavored with ginger, lime, and basil captured more than 92/100. Nick Sakellaropoulos told Greek Liquid Gold he considers this a continuation of “its wonderful journey,” since it is the fifth time that Gemstone has earned more than 92 points at a major international olive oil competition in 2019, “proving that it’s an innovative, unique, and impressive olive oil. This is the result of hard work, 27 years of dedication to achieving the best possible quality, and experience derived from many years of testing, tasting, and experimenting.”

Celebrating the success of two more distinctive flavored olive oils, Ellie Tragakes commented that her team at Hellenic Agricultural Enterprises is also “extremely pleased that we have won awards at Olivinus, this highly prestigious competition, for the second year in a row. Having received Grand Prestige Gold for our ACAIA and ACAIA Organic last year, we decided to participate with our flavored oils this year. Our flavored oils combine the special taste and aroma characteristic of the Kolovi olive variety that is unique to the island of Lesvos with all-natural essential oils. This year our ACAIA with Grapefruit & Bergamot received Grand Prestige Gold, while ACAIA with Lemon & Oregano received Gold. We are thrilled that ACAIA’s reputation is spreading to the Americas.”

Valia Kelidou told Greek Liquid Gold everyone at Kyklopas is very proud that they took home a Grand Prestige Gold award for their 11-month old extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in a competition featuring fresh oils from South America. They are pleased to share the flavor of their area on this continent. “Our olive oil is from the unique Makri variety found only in our region.” Their olive mill is in the village of Makri, 10 kilometers from the major port city of Alexandroupolis in northeastern Greece. This award from Olivinus brings Kyklopas’s total to 103 quality awards for their extra virgin olive oil in the last 10 years, which Kelidou considers striking evidence of their business’s consistent excellence.

UPDATE, October 6, 2019: Later results revealed that Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming's Oleoastron was judged the Best Flavored Olive Oil in the competition, while their Agourelaio Organic EVOO was also the only Greek olive oil selected by children for an award at Olivinus.

Complete List of Greek Quality Award Winners at Olivinus 2019

Special Awards

Best Flavored Olive Oil: Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Oleoastron Gourmet Flavored Olive Oil

Selected by Children: Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Agourelaio Organic EVOO

Grand Prestige Gold Awards

• Greka Icons S.A. - Trea Koroneiki & Athinoelia   
• Hellenic Agricultural Enterprises Ltd. - Acaia Flavored with Grapefruit
• Kyklopas Elaiotriveio Argyri Kelidi S.A. - Kyklopas Early Harvest
• Olympian Green International S.A. - Ktima Louiza        
• Olympian Green International S.A. - Olympian Green Oly Oil        
• Olympus Olive Oil - Olympus Olive Oil        
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Agourelaio Organic EVOO        
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Enigma Gourmet Flavored Olive Oil     
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Gemstone Blend (Flavored with Ginger, Lime, and Basil)
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Oleoastron Gourmet Flavored Olive Oil
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Syllektikon Gourmet Flavored Olive Oil (Flavored with Oranges, Lemons, and Wild Thyme

Prestige Gold Awards

• Botzakis S.A. - Olyssos Organic        
• Liá Cultivator - Liá Premium Edition   

Gold Awards

• Hellenic Agricultural Enterprises Ltd. - Acaia Flavored with Lemon      
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Armonia Organic EVOO        
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Enstagma Flavored Olive Oil with Saffron      
• Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming - Fyllikon Organic EVOO

Thanks to Sakellaropoulos Organic Farming for the photos.

“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.”

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