Bellistra Overcome Drought to Win First NYIOOC Award

Croatian producer Bellistra has won a Gold Award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

It is incredible that our olive oil should be among the best in the world. We are a mini business with family members and we are still at the beginning. This award strengthens our motivation to continue developing our knowledge.

Silvia Bellani, marketing manager

Based near the eastern coast of Istria, the company earned its debut NYIOOC accolade for a medium blend.

"It is incredible that our olive oil should be among the best in the world," marketing manager Silvia Bellani said. "We are a mini business with family members, and we are still at the beginning. This award strengthens our motivation to continue developing our knowledge."

In the 2022/23 crop year, Bellistra produced 250 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods. Bellani said the award is particularly meaningful for the family after a difficult season they considered not bothering to harvest.

"We had a very dry summer," she said. "Many trees had only a few small fruits. Accordingly, the picking was very strenuous. We even considered not picking this year. What is amazing is that the olive oil is still very good, and that surprised us."

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.