OPG Sladić Awarded for Native Monovarietals in New York

Dalmatian producer OPG Sladić has earned two awards at the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

It is a great success for us personally, but also for our region and our varieties. Although we have a long tradition and top quality, sometimes it is necessary to confirm this. We will continue to believe in our varieties.

Ante Sladić, owner

The south-central Croatian producer earned a Gold Award for an organic medium Krvavica and a Silver Award for an organic medium Oblica at the 2022 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

"Last year, we entered the NYIOOC for the first time and won a Gold Award for our Oblica," owner Ante Sladić said. "This year, we earned a Silver for our Oblica, and a Gold for Krvavica."

"It is a great success for us personally, but also for our region and our varieties," he added. "Although we have a long tradition and top quality, sometimes it is necessary to confirm this. We will continue to believe in our varieties."

Despite a second successful year at the NYIOOC, Sladić said climate change has provided plenty of challenges for growers in central Dalmatia.

"Climate change has become a challenge in recent years," he said. "However, the dry seasons in Dalmatia are something our olives are used to."

"We grow exclusively indigenous varieties that have been there for hundreds, maybe thousands of years," Sladić added. "Probably these varieties originated in our area, which means that they are in ideal conditions.

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, held each spring in New York, 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.

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.