Uncommon Time Celebrate Win in NYIOOC Debut

Portuguese producer Uncommon Time has been awarded at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

The Gold Award was an excellent surprise and we are very honoured with this distinction on our first try.

Pedro Vilares, co-owner

Based in Trás-os-Montes, the company earned a Gold Award for its UT Bio brand, an organic medium blend of Cobrancosa, Negrinha de Freixo and Verdeal Transmontana olives.

"The Gold Award was an excellent surprise, and we are very honored with this distinction on our first try," co-owner Pedro Vilares said.

"It is a very important distinction since it acknowledges our efforts and dedication to this project and proves the absolute quality of our olive oil, as well as enhances our motivation and commitment to continue to improve and to do even better," he added.

In the 2022/23 crop year, Uncommon Time produced 1,000 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods. Vilares cited climate and labor shortages as his main obstacle to overcome.

"Our main challenges were related to the lack of qualified workers, the climatic changes, the preservation of the soil and the lack of water," 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.