Italian Producers Rejoice After Strong Showing at World Olive Oil Competition
Italy earned 152 awards at the 2018 NYIOOC. Here are the very first impressions of some of the award-winning producers.
With an absolutely outstanding performance once again, Italy reaffirmed at the New York International Olive Oil Competition its leading role in the production of excellence.
Watching the live stream of the NYIOOC press conference has become an enjoyable tradition, a standing appointment that gave us great satisfaction over the years.
Italian extra virgin olive oils succeeded at the world’s largest and most prestigious olive oil contest gaining the highest number of awards, with 152 producers rewarded for their remarkable work. This result, along with the very large collection of entries submitted from Italy, which amounted to a record-breaking 253, is even more impressive if we consider the challenges olive growers had to face during a not-so-easy easy season.
“We are so excited for this significant recognition,” said Francesco Le Donne right after the prize announcement. His Colline Pontine PDO organic monovarietal of Itrana Villa Pontina was awarded a Best in Class which crowned a successful story of quality started three years ago. “Our olive groves have benefited from a climatically favorable season and still we did our best to reach the highest standards,” he pointed out with deep satisfaction.
Giuseppe Taibi accepted a Gold Award for Olio Taibi
“This great news made us all very happy,” echoed Filippo Alampi of Fattoria Ramerino. “Watching the live stream of the NYIOOC press conference has become an enjoyable tradition, a standing appointment that gave us great satisfaction over the years,” remarked the Tuscan producer of the Best in Class winner Guadagnolo Primus, a medium fruity blend with aromas of grass and artichoke on his third successful participation in a row at the NYIOOC.
“We are filled with emotion about this Gold Award, which is the third important recognition we received from the international panel of the New York contest,” said Spiros Borraccino of Oilalá. “We participated in this prestigious competition with our Coratina from olive trees located between Minervino Murge and Barletta,” the Apulian producer pointed out, adding that that the main challenge over the last season was drought. “But if you constantly follow what happens in the olive grove and if you are careful, you can reach great results.”
A Gold Award went to the organic Nocellare Etnea monovarietal made at Tenuta Vasadonna by Salvatore Scuderi. “The NYIOOC is a great event and an important showcase,” the Sicilian grower said with satisfaction from his farm on the slopes of Mount Etna. “It provides an opportunity for a stimulating comparison with several participants from all over the world. However, Italian quality goes forward also thanks to the joint effort of producers, millers and opinion leaders which are doing a good job,” he considered, adding that this recognition came at the end of a tough year, which required a lot of work. “But it is really worth the effort.”