Spain and Italy may have dominated this year’s New York International Olive Oil Competition, but some newcomers as well as stalwarts from Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Argentina showed they have what it takes to compete on the world stage.
One of the big surprises this year was the success of some outstanding producers from Mexico and Peru, countries that are generally less known for olive oil than others in the region like Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.
Peru boasted an exceptionally high success rate of 75 percent with three out of its four submissions receiving awards, including two in the “Best in Class” category. Oliperu SAC won both of them, with their Del Prado (South Hemisphere Organic Blend Medium) and Zumaq Organic (South Hemisphere Organic Monovarietal Robust). Oasis Olives received a Silver Award in the South Hemisphere Non-organic Blend Robust category.
Mexico had a strong showing with three Gold Awards given to its own Bodegas De Santo Tomìás. The winning olive oils were Mision (North Hemisphere Non-organic Monovarietal Robust), Manzanilla (North Hemisphere Non-organic Monovarietal Medium) and Ascolano (North Hemisphere Non-organic Monovarietal Robust).
Three different Uruguayan olive oil producers took home awards this year. With a total of four awards, the small country increasingly recognized for its high quality oils won more prizes than any country in Latin America. Both the Olivares de Rocha blend and picual by Nuevo Manantial Sa La Loma Alta won Gold Awards, while Colinas De Garzón – Trivarietal (Agroland S.A.) and Ortice Riserva received Silver and Gold Awards respectively.
Of Chile’s 19 entries in the contest, just two received NYIOOC recognition this year, giving the country the lowest rate of success among countries that received at least one award. 8 Olivos Blend by Agricola Y Forestal Don Rafael Limitada earned a “Best in Class” distinction (South Hemisphere Non-organic Blend Medium) and Deleyda by Olivos Ruta Del Sol S.A. was awarded the Silver in the South Hemisphere Non-organic Blend Robust category.
Argentina was represented by just one olive oil this year, Miditerra Grand by Miditerra S.A., which received a Gold Award in the category South Hemisphere Non-organic Blend Robust.
