Rafteli Protouli Maria & Co Wins Gold for PGI Blend

Greek producer Rafteli Protouli Maria & Co has won a Gold Award at the 2021 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

This distinction is the reward of our efforts and motivates us to continue our work.

Konstantinos Protoulis, owner

In the 2020/21 crop year, the company produced 700 tons of extra virgin olive oil in Mytilene, Lesvos using machine methods. Rafteli Protouli Maria & Co earned the Gold Award for its Aegean Gold PGI Lesvos brand, a medium blend.

"This distinction is the reward of our efforts and motivates us to continue our work," owner Konstantinos Protoulis said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic was the toughest challenge he had to overcome in 2020/21.

"Our biggest challenge was to continue to produce a high-quality product despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic and we believe that we achieved that goal," he said.

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 on the Official Index of the World's Best Olive Oils