This was the first year I was able to attend the SA Olive Awards ceremony, I’d missed the previous one due to prior arrangements. However I heard that the awards this year were a vast improvement on previous years so I don’t think I missed much.
This year’s event was held at Kronenburg function venue in Paarl, and the main function room looked very impressive as we walked in. It was a bitterly cold evening, but the venue was warm inside so we were comfortable during the awards ceremony. This was a good thing as each certificate was handed out individually, all 97 of them! It was a long process. They really need to work out a better way of doing it, maybe in category groups for silver and bronze at least.
As if the proceedings were not long enough, each sponsor was given an opportunity to speak. Several of them took the opportunity to tell us all about their products, including technical specifications! I really don’t think an awards ceremony is the appropriate time for that sort of thing.
But besides that it was a lovely event (well, apart from the fact that we didn’t get to taste any of the oils and there wasn’t even olive oil on the tables to use on our food! – most strange). There was a total of 97 medals awarded, 14 bronze, 39 silver and 43 gold. This year there was 100 olive oils entered into the competition, a significant increase over previous years. That, and the number of medals awarded is a clear indicator that the South African olive industry is growing fast.
The following olive oils won gold medals. To view the full list of winners, click here, and for more photos from the event click here.
Delicate oils:
De Rustica – De Rustica Private Press – Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Marbrin Farm – Marbrin Olive Growers Delicate
Muiskraal – Muiskraal Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Porterville Olives – Andante Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Prince Albert Olives – Prince Albert Olives – Karoo Blend
Medium oils:
Chaloner – Chaloner Mountain Oil Extra Virgin Olive Oil
De Boerin – De Boerin Extra Virgin Olive Oil
De Rustica – De Rustica Private Press – Medium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Het Bos Olives – Het Bos Olives Extra Virgin Olive Oil Frantoio
Kammanassie Blue – Kammanassie Blue Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kleinbergskloof – Kleinbergskloof Extra Virgin Estate Olive Oil
Kloovenburg Olives – Kloovenburg Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Marbrin Farm – Marbrin Olive Growers Mild
Morgenster – Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Morning View Olive Estate – Morning View Olive Oil Limited Release
Olivi – Olivi Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olyfberg – Olyfberg Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm – Oudewerfskloof Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Papkuilsfontein – Papkuilsfontein Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Porterville Olives – Andante Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Freedom of the Press
River Bend Farm – Riverbend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Smithshaven Farm – Gantouw Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Studtis Estate Baviaanskloof – Studtis Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil Baviaanskloof
Terra Rossa – Terra Rossa – Napier Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Olive Croft – The Olive Croft Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tokara – Tokara Premium Virgin Olive Oil
Zaamheid Olive Estate – Zaamheid Medium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Intense oils:
Bakenshoogte – Bakenshoogte
De Rustica – De Rustica Private Press – Intense Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Gabrielskloof – Gabrielskloof Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Hemelrand – Hemelrand Single Grove
Marbrin Farm – Marbrin Olive Growers Intense
Oakhurst Olives – Oakhurst Premium Reserve
Porterville Olives – Andante Forte Intensely Fruity
Porterville Olives – Andante Intenso
Portion 36 Olive Orchard – Portion 36 Coratina
Rio Largo Olive Estate – Rio Largo Premium Blend
Serrado – Serrado Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The Greenleaf Olive Company – Saint Sebastian Bay Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Zaamheid Olive Estate – Zaamheid Intense Extra Virgin Olive Oil
