Trentino Alto Adige, Umbria and Sicily they share the palm of the best fruity DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil of Italy of 2019. This was decided by the judges of the XXVII edition of Ercole Olivario, the national competition dedicated to Italian territorial oil excellence, organized by the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of Perugia and the support from the National Chamber System, associations of olive producers, organizations and institutions in the sector.
In fact, out of 96 finalist oils, 12 labels were awarded representing the best productions from all over Italy, which shone in the two distinct categories provided for by the regulation (extra virgin and extra virgin olive oils DOP and IGP), for each of the following types: light fruity, medium fruity and intense fruity.
Again Sicily, together with Calabria and Puglia, was awarded the recognition for the best fruity Extra Virgin Olive Oil while Toscana was awarded the Special Mention for the best Organic Oil.
Giorgio Mencaroni, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Perugia and of the Coordination Committee of Ercole Olivario in delivering the prizes underlined: "Promotion is the watchword of this competition which, as per tradition, does not end with the ceremony award ceremony today. Ercole Olivario is, in fact, an efficient promotional machine active all year round, which looks inside and outside the national borders with various initiatives dedicated to the winning oils. This in order to enhance the very high quality standards behind each single label and the great work of the producers. So today we reward the absolute quality of Made in Italy oils and at the same time we celebrate the passion and tenacity of our olive growers who, even in the face of a difficult olive oil campaign like this year's, continue to bet on the sector and on our competition, becoming sentinels and custodians of an extraordinary product”.
The 'top list' of magnificent oils for 2019 sees Umbria in the lead with 4 awards, al second place Trentino, Puglia and Sicily with 2 prizes. Following are instead Abruzzo, Calabria, Sardinia, Tuscany, Liguria and Lombardy with 1 prize each. They will be the guest stars at Sol in Verona (April 7-10), thanks also to the collaboration with Coldiretti Unaprol, and at TuttoFood in Milan (May 6-9), while across the border various initiatives will be protagonists in China, precisely in order to encourage marketing of the oils in the competition in this strategic location.
At Ercole Olivario they competed this year185 labels from 17 regions which, after an initial survey of the local technical commissions, were evaluated by a national jury, led by panel leader Gianfranco De Felici and made up of 16 tasters, representing the Italian olive growing regions participating in the competition.
For the first time a Chinese delegation took part in the event: of industry operators and journalists who have personally experienced all the final stages of the Award, representing Ringier Trade Media Ltd (leading group in industrial information for buyers and suppliers in China, Asia and the Middle East), Ganlan Media ( group specializing in lifestyle and high-end catering), Tourism world Wave Consulting (whose travel magazine has been a point of reference in Shanghai for almost 40 years) and Chef Go Go Go (one of the leading media outlets in Shanghai, whose core are the kitchen and the chefs). An incoming operation, the latter, fielded by Ercole Olivario in collaboration with ICE – Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies.
And here is the list of the best oils in Italy:
1 Classified light fruity PDO extra virgin olive oil
Garda Trentino from the Brioleum farm in Arco – Trento
1 Classified PDO medium fruity extra virgin olive oil
Colli Martani of the Decimi di Bettona Company – Perugia
1 Classified PDO extra virgin olive oil intense fruity
Valli Trapanesi of the Titone Organic Farm in Trapani
1 Classified light fruity extra virgin olive oil
Nocellara del Belice from the Cutrera oil mill in Ragusa
1 Classified medium fruity extra virgin olive oil
Torchia di Tiriolo oil mill – Catanzaro
1 Classified intense fruity extra virgin olive oil
Affiorato of the Intini Company of Martina Franca – Taranto
Special Mention for organic oil
Extra virgin olive oil Cultivar Frantoio from the Fattoria Ramerino Agricultural Society of Bagno a Ripoli – Florence
Young Entrepreneur Award
Torre di Mossa Estate of the De Carlo Agricultural Company of Bitritto – Bari
Mention "Monocultivar"
Extremum of the Cassini Paolo Company of Isolabona – Imperia
Amphora olearia award for the best package
Novello Cavazza Manerba del Garda farm - Brescia
Lekythos Award to the personality who is committed to spreading knowledge of Italian quality oil in Italy and abroad.
Colonel Luigi Cortellessa, Commander of the Carabinieri Command for agri-food protection for the work done to safeguard quality Made in Italy.
