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Many events, prizes and recognitions for the best national and international oils. Oil culture has seen an explosion in recent years. This exploit has meant that competitions and awards have become increasingly important and important both for producers but also for consumers. The former, seeing themselves rewarded, acquire a guarantee and recognition from which they benefit in terms of sales, which is why participation in competitions is increasingly part of marketing strategies. Consumers themselves, even more so enthusiasts but not experts on the subject, rely on rankings and guides on the topic during the long process of purchasing.
The evolution of the awards has followed the evolution of national and international directives as well as the social aspects of the constantly changing world. Many competitions have in fact introduced awards relating to green and sustainable agriculture, prizes to encourage female entrepreneurship and the digitalisation of the sector. Choices that write new pages in the history and culture of oil.
Listing all the contests in the Bel Paese would be impossible. We will then mention the most important and coveted competitions.
FLOS OLEI
One of the major international competitions and industry leaders. The mission of the competition and of the handbook is to expand the knowledge and study of oil, so as to also export the figure of the expert taster of extra virgin olive oil, to encourage producers to compare themselves with each other for an increasingly higher quality of products and disseminate to the general public the benefits of extra virgin olive oil in the many areas of consumption and marketing.
The prizes awarded by Flos Olei are divided into 3 categories. The Hall of Fame includes a list of companies that have reached excellent levels by obtaining a lifetime achievement award with a score of 100/100. The Best category awards prizes based on quality. For the companies section, the awards concern the Company of the Year, Green, Frontier and the Heart. A note in particular on the Green award, a new entry in the category. The establishment of the award is the result of the ever-increasing effort to create sustainable production that respects the environment, a sign of the ethical commitment and common direction that is increasingly gaining ground. This is followed by the awards for the Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil of the Year (Itran's by Madonna dell'Olivo, present in our store), Best EVO Oil from Organic Agriculture and Best EVO Oil from Organic Agriculture and Dop/Igp. Further awards for the Best EVO Oil according to the Extraction Method, Quality/Quantity, Quality/Packaging and Quality/Price. Finally, the best Light, Medium and Intense Fruities were awarded with regards to the Monovarietal, Blended and Dop/Igp. The last category is the Special Awards, recognitions due to those who promote and spread knowledge of oil and the entire sector. The awards for Importer of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Journalist of the Year and the Cristina Tiliacos Special Award are part of the section.
GAMBERO ROSSO
Gambero Rosso, which has always been synonymous with food and wine dissemination, reaches the 12th edition of "Oli d'Italia". The guide was created to ensure that the production of Made in Italy oil expands throughout the world, building a community linked to extra virgin olive oil made up of restaurateurs, chefs and consumers. The aim of Gambero Rosso is to actively deal with the promotion of all the labels participating in the competition through a periodic newsletter, the sending of the guide to a thousand of the best restaurants and wine bars-oil bars that are part of the circuit and the organization of thematic events.
In addition to the guide dedicated to the best extra virgin olive oils in Italy, some highly coveted prizes will be awarded. First of all, there is the attribution of "Leaves" for all oils with a score higher than 75/100. The Three Leaves are awarded to companies that achieve the maximum score according to the aspects related to the taste, aroma, palate and nutritional principles of their products. The Due Foglie are awarded to companies that have achieved a fair score with good products for the harmony of flavors. A Leaf for oils to keep an eye on.
ERCOLE OLIVARIO
One of the longest-running and most recognized competitions in the olive growing panorama became thirty this year. The contest is dedicated to producers of the highest quality Italian oil, who can participate with their own oil or in the extra virgin olive oil or DOP/IGP extra virgin olive oil category. Among the novelties of the 2022 edition are the creation of the Roll of Honor dedicated to the 343 prizes awarded over the course of these 30 years, the Mention of Merit "Giorgio Phellas - Oil Tourism" for the company promoting oil and the its territory and the La Goccia d'Ercole award to support small productions.
To conquer the infamous Temple of Ercole Olivario, participants will first have to pass the regional selection phase and then reach the national ones. 12 labels will be able to enjoy the victory with a score above 75/100. The first 6 prizes are reserved for the first place winners for the light, medium and intense fruity types of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Dop/Igp Extra Virgin Olive Oil categories. The 6 remaining prizes are awarded in proportion to the number of oils present in each fruity category.
There is no shortage of special prizes, including: Special Amphora Olearia Prize for oil with the best packaging; Leikithos Award (in collaboration with the ICE and the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad) for the personality ambassador of oil and its culture beyond national borders; Mention of Merit for Young Entrepreneur reserved for under 40s; Special Mention “Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil”; “Monocultivar Oil” mention; Mention of Merit for Women's Enterprises to enhance and encourage female entrepreneurship in the field; Mention of Merit for Digital Communication Enterprise.
Participants in the competition will also be able to enjoy numerous training and in-depth meetings on the sector as well as being part of a promotional program including tastings at national and international fairs.
LODO – L’ORCIOLO D’ORO
Born in 1985 from an idea by Marta Cartoceti, it is the oldest Extra Virgin Olive Oil competition in the world. The competition gives life to the international guide Lodo Guide, whose objective is the valorisation of the territories and oil producing companies. A full-bodied project which includes several formats such as "Le Strade dell'Olio", "I Volti dell'Olio" and "Lodo Qualifying Gourmet Project".
As regards the competition, there are 2 different phases: the first dedicated to the Northern Hemisphere and the second to the Southern Hemisphere. There are 3 selection steps. The pre-selection is entrusted to the most important trade associations and/or delegations of tasters professionals who carry out an initial screening of the samples while still trying to maintain a territorial balance. Those who pass this phase are admitted to Lodo's Selection where additional national and international tasting professionals are added to the evaluation of the samples. Last phase dedicated to the Praiseworthy. The Oriciolo Ottimo is awarded to those who have achieved a score between 85/89 where the quality is high, there is balance between the olfactory and gustatory scents and the territorial representativeness is excellent. Due Orcioli Excellent, from 90 to 93, for oils considered excellent in international olive growing. Tre Orcioli Commendable, from 94 to 99, to the productions that represent olive growing on the international scene in an unparalleled way. Finally, the Star is reserved for companies with scores equal to or higher than 90/100 for all the oils presented in the competition.
Also in this contest there is no shortage of classic prizes for the best company, mill, PDO, fruity etc. However, the special prizes deserve a mention. Design awards for both Best Bottle, Best Packaging and Best Label; Hyper Evo Award for the oil with the highest percentage of polyphenols; Heroic Olive Growing Award for the company that has stood out for its commitment and dedication; Supernova Award for the company with a small production of excellence; Giuseppe Fontanazza Award for the innovative owner of Italian olive growing; Lodo Social Award to the company that has exposed itself on social media in an original and incisive way.
The "Lodo Qualifying Gourmet Project" was created to enhance the best productions within prestigious gastronomic contexts. The award-winning oils thus become the protagonists of dishes created by multi-starred chefs.
SLOW FOOD
It is thanks to Slow Food that today we can count on the National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Presidium. The latest data on the subject attests to how the olive growing of centuries-old olive groves of local cultivars and the sustainability of the sector is in danger. The initiative, integrated by the Guide to Extra Virgin Olive Oils, gives rise to a communication channel with the aim of spreading knowledge of the best productions of each vintage. The goal is twofold. On the one hand, productions that respect environmental protection are protected, on the other, consumers are educated to make informed choices. Olive farms, in compliance with the requirements, in addition to being able to take part in the Presidium, can also aspire to conquer the Grande Olio, the Grande Olio Slow and the Chiocciola. Grande Olio is a
recognition due to extra virgin olive oils that reach the maximum classification for organoleptic value, adherence to the territory and its cultivars. The second, in addition to the requirements just mentioned, requires that the oil is obtained through sustainable agronomic practices. La Chiocciola, on the other hand, is the award for companies that stand out for their total consistency with the Slow Food philosophy.