Five extra virgin olive oils were lauded as the cream of the 2016 harvest at the Absa Top 5 Olive Oil awards held at Tokara in September.

The accolades were awarded to Gabriëlskloof EVOO, Greenleaf EVOO, Kransfontein Coratina EVOO, Marbrin Olive Growers Intense EVOO and Willow Creek Directors’ Reserve EVOO.

The runners-up were Andante EVOO, Marbrin Olive Growers Directors Reserve EVOO, Marbrin Olive Growers Medium EVOO, River Press EVOO and Spar Authentic EVOO.

Absa and SA Olive instituted the Top 5 competition in 2013 as an extension to the annual SA Olive Awards. The top performers, selected from the ranks of the highest-scoring SA Olive Awards medal winners, are eligible to make the Top-5 cut. Ten finalists are selected from this pool by a team of tasters and narrowed down to the Top 5.

This year the judge’s panel comprised international olive oil maestro Dr Antonio G Lauro and eight members of the SA Olive tasting panel: Leonard Arangies, Robert Claasens, Gerrie Duvenage, Reni Hildenbrand, Birgitta Hofmeyr, Benedetta Lami, Louise Rabie and Kelly White. Lauro is an olive oil consultant, journalist and panel leader, an assessor of extra virgin olive oil quality since 1995 and a panel leader accredited by the International Olive Council. “It is a great honour for Absa to be part of these awards, which recognise top performing producers and aim to motivate them to strive for excellence. We, as a sponsor, support excellence as we believe that such support contributes to growth and prosperity in our province,” says Doug Walker, Absa Provincial managing executive.

“The industry creates 12,000 jobs, supporting even many more livelihoods. The contribution the industry makes within the production environment is key to the promotion of a proudly South African product.  You make a constructive contribution to the communities you operate in.”

The competition provides a platform for the South African olive oil industry to showcase its very finest. South African oils are regularly recognised on a global stage for their quality and distinctiveness, and competitions like the Absa Top 5 play a crucial role in educating local consumers about the industry and its diverse spectrum of superior, world-class products.