Le Balze Wins Gold for Robust Blend in New York

Italian producer Le Balze di Fontisterni has been awarded for the second consecutive year at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

We are more than happy that our hard work paid off with a win in such an important international competition.

Tom Luger, owner

The Tuscan producer earned a Gold Award for its Balze brand, a robust blend. The brand previously earned a Silver Award in 2022.

"We are more than happy that our hard work paid off with a win in such an important international competition," owner Tom Luger said.

Despite the successful outcome, Luger said the 2022 harvest in his 230-tree grove was marked with significant challenges, mainly due to the drought.

"We got hardly any rain for many months, but in the end, we got exceptional olives for our extra virgin olive oil," he said.

Held each spring in New York, 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.

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