Terra Rossa Dedicates NYIOOC Triumph to Late Founder

Terra Rossa from Croatia has triumphed, earning its seventh award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

This award confirms our exceptional passion as well as our very high quality standards for our product. We dedicate this award to our late grandfather and founder.

Daniel Bellani, co-owner

The Istrian producer earned a Gold Award for an organic medium blend, which has earned six Gold Awards and a Silver Award since 2015.

"This award confirms our exceptional passion as well as our very high quality standards for our product," co-owner Daniel Bellani said. "We dedicate this award to our late grandfather and founder."

"We were allowed to spend the last harvest together," he added. "At 99 years old, he was the oldest active olive oil producer in Croatia. We will try to continue his legacy."

Despite another successful year at the world's largest extra virgin olive oil quality contest, Bellani said drought was a significant challenge during the harvest.

"Last year, the drought was a big issue," he said. "In our region, it had not rained for up to nine months. We have therefore had to water our olive trees by hand with a lot of effort. In September, finally, the rain came and the relief. In the end, we were able to enjoy an exceptionally good harvest."

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition held each spring in New York, is the world's 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.