Athena International Olive Oil Competition results are out with many Greek winners

The Athena International Olive Oil competition aims to promote high quality EVOOS in Greece and internationally, contribute to the production and continuous improvement of high quality olive oils while highlighting newcoemr olive-growing countries and regions as well as rare olive varietals. Above all, it was established to help consumers choose the best olive oils in the world by offering quality certification provided by the “Athena” seal on all award-winning bottles.

The event is held in Greece, the first country in the world to uplift the olive and olive oil by giving them a central role in its culture and economy, and also because Greek extra virgin olive oils are universally recognised as among the best in the world with the leading olive variety of Koroneiki being adopted in a plethora of other countries which are striving for excellence.

The competition had been planned for April and would have been hosted on the island of Lesvos – one of Greece’s leading olive oil producing regions which accounts for about 20 per cent of the total amount of annual production nationwide. The coronavirus pandemic dashed these plans, and the competition finally took place in June with the results announced last week.

A number of Greek producers discerned themselves in the international competition. Below are the winners

1. Highest score

Double Gold (95-100) Xiangyu Coratina of the Longnan Xiangyu Olive Development (http://www.xiangyuoliveoil.com)

2. Best olive oil per country of origin

Double Gold Kyklopas Early Harvest, Thrace, Evros (http://www.kyklopas.com); Picualia Premium Reserva, Andalusia, Spain (http://www.picualia.com); Extra Peaceful Olive Oil Sindyanna of Galilee (http://www.sindyanna.com); Mitera Raio, Umbria, Perugia, Italy (http://www.mitera.ch); Oliveri Coratina, Croatia (http://www.oli-veri.com); Gallo Bio, Portugal (http://www.gallooliveoil.com); Nova Vera Trilye Premium, Manisa (http://www.novavera.com.tr); Olivko, Tunisia

3. Best single varietal olive oil

Double Gold Xiangyu Coratina, Longnan Xiangyu Olive Development (http://www.xiangyuoliveoil.com)

4. Best entry per variety

Gold Socrates, Olive of Amfissa, Central Greece, Phocis (http://www.socratesoil.gr) Gold Geras Gliglis Gregoris Kolovi Greece, Lesbos (http://www.art-organicoil.gr) Double Gold Iliada Agrovim, Peloponnese, Messenia (http://www.agrovim.gr) Silver Enetikon, Bio Green Olive Oil, Corfu (http://www.bio-green-oliveoil.gr) Double Gold Kyklopas Early Harvest, Thrace, Evros (http://www.kyklopas.com) Gold Mitera Mastoidis, Rethymno (http://www.mitera.ch) Gold Liocladi, Chalkidiki (http://www.toleris-oliveoil.com) Double Gold Almaoliva Arbequino, Andalusia, Spain ( http://www.almazarasdelasubbetica.com) Double Gold Xiangyu Coratina, China (http://www.xiangyuoliveoil.com) Double Gold Organic Biodynamic Hojiblanca, Andalusia (http://www.cortijoelpuerto.com) Gold Noor Fes, Morocco (http://www.noorfes.com) Double Gold Picualia Premium Reserva, Andalusia (http://www.picualia.com)

5. Best blended (multi-varietal) olive oil

Double Gold Aprutino Pescarese Sandro di Giacomo, Abruzzo, Italy

6. Best olive oil from the Koroneiki variety, worldwide

Double Gold Iliada Agrovim Koroneiki, Messenia (http://www.agrovim.gr)

7. Best Greek olive oil from the Koroneiki variety

Double Gold Iliada Agrovim Koroneiki, Messenia (http://www.agrovim.gr)

8. Best organic extra virgin olive oil, worldwide

Double Gold Xiangyu Coratina, Longnan Xiangyu Olive Development (http://www.xiangyuoliveoil.com)

9. Best Greek organic extra virgin olive oil

Double Gold Cretanthos Early Harvest Organic, Rethymno, Crete (http://www.cretanthos.gr)

10. Best Greek olive oil per region: Crete, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace, Ionian Islands, Aegean Islands (except Crete)

Silver Enetikon Bio Green Olive Oil, Lianolia of Corfu, Epirus, Preveza http://www.bio-green-oliveoil.gr) Gold Zarli Karathanou Eirini, Magnesia (http://www.zarlioliveoil.com) Double Gold Kyklopas Early Harvest, Thrace, Evros (http://www.kyklopas.com) Double Gold Cretanthos Early Harvest Organic, Rethymno http://www.cretanthos.gr) Double Gold Imera Olive Oil, Macedonia, Kozani http://www.oliveoilimera.com) Double Gold Sapfo Basic Lesbos http://www.papadellis.eu) Silver Mavroudis, Corfu Double Gold Iliada Agrovim Koroneiki, Messenia (http://www.agrovim.gr) Gold Socrates, Amfissa, Central Greece (http://www.socratesoil.gr)

11. Best flavored or infused olive oil

Double Gold Mavroudis Gourmet Garlic, Corfu