Olivaia’s OLA Triumphs at NYIOOC World

Olivaia’s OLA from the United States has won a Gold and a Silver Award at the 2022 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

The company produces extra virgin olive oil in California using traditional methods.

"Our EVOOs are unique given that they come from centennial trees, many of which the DNA is yet to be determined," Giulio Zavolta explained to Olive Oil Times. "We purposely saved these trees from being pulled and there is nothing more rewarding when those efforts are recognized by an international panel of experts with a renowned NYIOOC award."

Olivaia’s OLA won a Gold Award for its OLA Block X Heirloom, a medium blend and a Silver Award for its OLA Estate Sevillano, a delicate Sevillano monovarietal.

The 2021/2022 season was marked by significant challenges, the company's owner said upon winning the olive oil industry's most coveted awards.

"The lack of rain and intense heat made for a challenging year," Zavolta explained. "With our well starting to pull sand, it becomes somewhat discouraging when thinking of the future. To make matters worse a labor shortage partially caused by the fires -- fire fighting paid better than picking -- put a real dent in our harvesting capacity. We nevertheless adapt."

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, held each spring in New York, is the world's largest and most prestigious olive oil contest and 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.