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The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world’s largest and most prestigious olive oil contest. Its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.
All Winners 2022The Official Guide to the World’s Best Olive Oils is the authoritative index of the world’s best olive oils and the dedicated producers who craft them.
The Picual, also known as Marteña or Lopereña, is an olive cultivar from Spain. Picual olives are the most commonly grown olive today for olive oil, with production centered in the Spanish province of Jaén.
Picual trees are estimated to account for 25 percent of all olive oil in the world.
Crafting an award-winning olive oil takes determination, skill and obsessive attention to details. Every stage of the process, from harvest to bottle, must be perfectly managed to produce one of the world’s best olive oils.
After winning an award at the world’s largest olive oil quality competition, Lalin has become a role model for other young olive growers in Pakoštane.
“It is a long process because if you want to do something well, then it should be of good quality, and you should have time for that,” Lalin said. “I think it is important to have a goal and not give up. It took a long time.”
The region has a beautiful and varied territory, from mountains to sea and volcanic lakes. This is reflected in a rich olive biodiversity which, in turn, is exalted by farmers through outstanding extra virgin olive oils.