7 minute read
Geographical spread for 2020 AIOA Best in Show awards
Stephen and Sui Tham (right), horticulturist Linda Hampton and grove manager Afrim Rakip are the team that make the Cape Schanck farm work – along with a multitude of hard-working family and friends.
Victoria’s Cape Schank Olive Estate and Tasmania’s Flinders Island Olives have taken the coveted Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) in Show titles at the 2020 Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA), which this year saw twin “top gongs” awarded to Boutique and Commercial quantity producers respectively.
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Cape Schank Olive Estate’s Picual EVOO topped the judges’ scores at 95/100, beating a strong field of medal winning entries. The varietal then achieved a clean sweep across all eligible trophy categories, taking out the awards for Champion Spanish Varietal, Best Victorian EVOO, Best Australian EVOO, Best Southern Hemisphere EVOO and Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Show Commercial Volume. Cape Schank’s Coratina and Leccino varietal EVOOs were also awarded Gold.
Flinders Island Olives’ Organic EVOO was awarded a score of 91.5 by the judges, earning a Gold medal and the trophies for Reserve Champion Medium EVOO, Champion Tasmanian EVOO and Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Show Boutique Volume. The Flinders Island Olives Season’s Blend EVOO added another Gold medal for the 1100-tree producer, which is the only commercial grove on Flinders Island.
Also on the major award winner’s list was New South Wales producer Wymah Organic The
AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL Olives, which won the Champion Kalamata Olive, Best Australian Table Olive, Best Olive Awards ww w . i n t e r n a t i o n a l o l i v e a w a r d s a u s t r a l i a . c o m . a u ® Southern Hemisphere Table Olive and Best Table Olive in Show for its which 92 pointscored Wymah Certified Organic Kalamata Olives.
The Best Flavoured Olive Oil of Show award caused a conundrum for the judges, resulting in tie for the title between South Australia’s Rio Vista Olives and New Zealand producer The Olive Press Limited. Rio Vista’s Basil Pressed and The Olive Press’ Pressed Gold Rosmarino Blu Toscano both scored 94 points among a strong field AIOA EVOO entry fast facts • 130 medals awarded: 56 Gold, 47 Silver, 27 Bronze • medals to 94.8% of entries (91.2% in 2019) • average score 81.7/high silver (77.5 in 2019) • substantial increase in medium intensity oils, decrease in mild • made from one or more of 34 varieties (28 in 2019): monovarietals 55%, two-cultivar blends 25%, three-cultivar blends 11%, four or more cultivar blends 9% • average free fatty acid percentage: 0.211 (0.199 in 2019) • average peroxide level: 5.89 mEq
O2/kg (8.08 in 2019) • average polyphenol count: 323.92 mg/kg (274.06 mg/kg in 2019) • polyphenol range: 77ppm(Kalamata) to 980ppm (Tunisian Chetoui)
Jude Cazaly was “bowled over” by her AIOA Best in Show win in a year when she almost missed harvesting her fruit.
of flavoured oil entries, a category seeing exceptional growth in popularity and quality in recent years. Both producers also won awards across various categories, The Olive Press taking two EVOO Golds and Rio Vista racking up an impressive total of 12 Gold, three Silver and two Bronze medals.
Spanish producer Goya En España again achieved success in both oil and table olive categories, taking the Best EVOO Northern Hemisphere award for its Goya® “Organics” Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the Best Table Olive Northern Hemisphere for its Manzanilla Stuffed with Tuna Paste.
Global judging and status
Competition Convenor and Chief Steward Trudie Michels said this year’s competition saw an even greater emphasis on the global status of the competition, with judging panels across Australia joined in their contemplations by international panels in Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Tunisia and China.
“All up we had more than 40 judges who gave their time and expertise to be a part of this year’s competition,” she said.
“For entrants, it was a chance to have their products appraised by world-renowned oil judges, and also provides an unprecedented opportunity for international recognition and the marketing benefits that follow.
“It was also great to see a continuing increase in entries from international producers, with entries this year coming from Tunisia, Italy, Spain, China, New Zealand and Australia.”
Tough times, determined growers
Michels said that, considering 2020’s COVID-19, bushfire and drought challenges, the level of local entries is also testament to the both the value of the competition and the determination of Australian growers.
“We received 137 EVOO entries from 70 exhibitors, 23 flavoured oil entries from 11 exhibitors and 46 table olive entries from 15 exhibitors. This was a drop of only 7.7% on last year’s figures and considering the year we’ve had, it is an amazing achievement,” she said.
“As were the results: in this year’s EVOO competition there were 130 medals awarded,
The Olive Press Limited – Directors Rod Lingard and Katrina Bach with company mascot Spike and the 2020 harvest and processing crews.
“THANK-YOU so much for the great news! We love entering our olive oils every year, and we know that you give out very few gold medals. Truly overjoyed and proud to be part of the industry. THANKS so very much” - Mark Bolton, Buying Director, ALDI Stores
Rio Vista Olives’ Jared and Jacqueline Bettio were thrilled with their AIOA results: 12 Gold, three Silver and two Bronze medals, and joint winner of the Best Flavoured Olive Oil of Show award.
Congratulations to all 2020 Australian International Winners!
We’ll feature more winners' images in coming editions of Olivegrower & Processor, so if you haven’t sent us yours, please grab your medals/trophies and smile for the camera so we can share your success on our pages.
Please send images at full size and resolution to Gerri at editor@olivegrower.com.au.
New South Wales producer Mary Done took out four major awards, including Best Table Olive in Show, for her Wymah Certified Organic Kalamata Olives.
including 56 Gold (30 in 2019), 47 Silver (76 in 2019) and 27 Bronze (37 in 2019). Thus 94.8% of entries were awarded a medal, up from last year’s 91.2%.
“In particular, feedback from the international panels was very complimentary on the oils in this year’s competition, the majority of which were Australian. This was reflected in the number of Gold medals they awarded.
“Similarly, the flavoured oils competition saw 95.6% of entries awarded a medal, up by nearly 7% on last year and an indication of the increasing quality of this category. In fact, it was very difficult to decide on the ‘Best in Class’ awards as the top golds had such complexity, intensity and purity of flavour, with amazing freshness. That’s why we ended up with two oils being jointly awarded Best Flavoured Olive Oil in Show.
“The table olive competition also saw some exceptional entries this year, including the Best of Show winning 92-pointed Kalamata.
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Alpina Fine Food’s Boris and Rainer Sandmann with the array of awards won by Spanish producer Goya En España at the 2020 AIOA, including Best EVOO Northern Hemisphere and Best Table Olive Northern Hemisphere.
Unfortunately, a number of problems were found with some exhibits, where salt and pH levels did not meet the competition’s testing parameters and seven entries were withdrawn.
“It is obvious, however, that as grove management is becoming more effective, olive processing systems more efficient, and marketing and communications more targeted and successful, overall quality in Australian olive products is increasing.
“It is satisfying to increasingly see the industry producing truly world class oils and olives - and to see the growing international interest in the Australian industry and our quality olive products.
“Unfortunately, the reduced 2020 harvest means there’s not that much available this year, so we need to get the message out to consumers that if you want to enjoy really fresh, high quality Australian EVOO, get out and buy it now.”
Results
The winners were announced at the Australian International Olive Awards Gala Virtual Presentation on Friday, 16 October. Full results are available on the competition website: www.internationaloliveawardsaustralia.com.au.
