Founded in 2006, Chile's Austral Family Estates is rapidly -- and thoughtfully -- garnering international acclaim.
In a sparkling new office park in the posh Las Condes neighborhood of Santiago sits the offices of Austral Family Estates — creators of award-winning olive oils like Aura and Kilkai.
We wanted to communicate Chile in a way that would bring people’s image of the country up to date.- Juan Ramsay, Austral Family Estates
The Sarquis family was already well known in Chile for their real estate ventures (like the business park in Las Condes), as well as their Chilean fisheries, when they turned their attention to olive oil in 2006 and founded the company. And olive oil has contributed the most among their projects to Chile’s national identity abroad.
To go from a brand-new business to an award-winning, vertically integrated and sustainable producer in just over ten years is no easy feat. After scoping out a prime piece of property in the Curicó Valley, 200km south of Santiago and 45km from the Pacific, Austral set out on an extensive soil mapping and analysis project in order to optimize production.
Today, the property is home to 1,250 hectares of planted orchards with a state-of-the-art mill at its epicenter.
This past year, the Kilkai blend was recognized with a Gold Award by the New York International Olive Oil Competition. The fruity, well-balanced extra virgin olive oil stands out as a robust yet accessible blend, the company said, but what makes it even more important to the company is the attention it brings to Chile.
The word “Kilkai” makes reference to a necklace worn by the native Mapuche people, and an illustration of a strong-looking, modern Mapuche woman wearing the necklace takes up a large portion of the label.
“Internationally, the Chilean identity is not strong,” explained Austral’s managing director Juan Ramsay. “With the Kilkai line, we wanted to communicate Chile in a way that would bring people’s image of the country up to date.”
Chile exports heavily to the international market, yet Ramsay believes that few people could point to it on a map, and noted that it lacks cultural iconography like the tango dance of Argentina.
The Kilkai line was part of a deliberate effort to change that, and as a favorite among international buyers and critics alike, it has. Ramsay describes this extra-virgin olive oil variety as “fresh and fruity,” and he works personally, along with the oil miller and a panel of tasters, to ensure that the personality of the line is maintained from year to year.
The secret to Kilkai’s winning flavor profile is the abundance of polyphenols in the oil. Ramsay explained that part of the company’s success has come from embracing the Arbequina olive, as well as the fact that the oil is extracted no more than 3 hours from the time the olives are harvested.
And Kilkai isn’t the only Austral Family Estates sub-brand to garner attention: the entire line-up has pulled in awards in Italy, the U.S. and Japan.
As they look to the future, Austral Family Estates plans to continue to engage the Chilean brand directly with the consumer through chef-created recipes and food pairings.
More articles on: Chile, NYIOOC World, olive oil quality
Apr. 24, 2024
Officials Urge Croatia's Tourism Operators to Showcase Award-Winning Olive Oils
Olive growers and millers are being encouraged to showcase their products and processes to the country’s 20 million annual visitors.
Jun. 13, 2023
Innovation Yields World-Class EVOO from Restored Groves of Former Monastery
Zero waste, healthy soil, regenerative agriculture and award-winning olive oil production are the goals of Cultura Viva.
Mar. 27, 2024
In Chile, Mixed Expectations Replace High Hopes
Producers anticipated another harvest exceeding 20,000 tons until poor climate conditions in the winter tempered their outlook.
Jan. 3, 2024
Upstart Belgian Importer Stakes Claim on the World Stage
The founders of ASUR source award-winning oils from Greece to sell in Belgium and the Netherlands, facing challenges associated with nascent olive oil markets.
Feb. 7, 2024
Oleocampo's 3,500 Members Overcome Harvest Challenges with Quality Intact
Farmers in the massive Jaén-based cooperative sacrificed yield for a tenth straight year of award-winning quality.
Mar. 19, 2024
Growers in Croatia Await Contest Results
Industry advocates and producers see the NYIOOC as a way to showcase Croatia's quality and combat adulteration and fraud.
Nov. 6, 2023
Making Award-Winning Olive Oil from California’s Centenarian Trees
In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Guilio Zavolta and Rachelle Bross seek to promote and protect the state’s historic olive trees.
May. 31, 2023
First-Time NYIOOC Winners Find New Opportunities
From increased media coverage to easier access to lucrative foreign markets, first-time winners at the World Olive Oil Competition reflect on the results of their hardwork and success.