I think we can all agree there certainly is no shortage of press and media when it comes to being informed, educated and influenced about food and wine in our daily lives.  We are exposed each and every day to magazines, television shows and networks, newspapers that all reach out in similar yet individual ways attempting to keep the American consumer up to date.  Well I have the inside scoop to an event that is now in its 10th year and has become a rewarding part of my culinary career – Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.

The Los Angeles County Fair has gained its respect, recognition and notoriety because of its International Wine and Spirits Competition which is now in its 70th year.  It has grown to such importance within the wine and food community it is considered by USA Today to be one of the top five wine competitions in the United States.  In 2000, the importance of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the American consumer could no longer be over looked, thus the birth of the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition.

The California Olive Oil Council (COOC) established in 1992, brought forward a volunteer panel of ‘tasters’ that had been educated and trained how to judge and recognize quality extra virgin olive oil with the help of UC Davis and guidelines established by International Olive Oil Council (IOOC).  I would be fortunate to be part of this recognized panel chosen to set the foundation for olive oil judging here in the United States.

Olive Tree

It all started with less than 40 entries, a majority from California along with a handful of foreign producers.  As the years have passed, the importance and impact brought about by the competition has certainly grown – this year we were set to taste 477 olive oils from 318 producers!  This year’s competition received oils from Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay and the United States.

As with the olive oils, the judging panel has grown and now is a blend of experts from around the world that gather each May to see what the world has to offer.  This year twenty-three judges would come from Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.  The tasting /evaluation process is very interesting and another subject I look forward to sharing with you in my next blog topic.

The results are divided into Domestic and International categories.  Within these categories, olive oils are separated into ‘delicate’, ‘medium’ and robust fruitiness.  This year’s winners are:

Berkeley Olive Grove 1913, Domestic – Mission, Mission Gold, Butte County, Delicate

Lucero Olive Oil, Domestic – Mission, Corning, Medium

Pacific Sun Olive Oil, Domestic – Mission, Tehama County, Medium

Apollo Olive Oil, Domestic – Sacramento Valley Blends, Mistal, Organic, Yuba County, Medium

Hillstone Olive Oil, Domestic – Sacramento Valley Blends, Yolo County, Robust

California Olive Oil Company, Domestic – Sacramento Valley Blends, Proprietor’s Blend, Sacramento Valley, Delicate

Cafaggio, International – Italy – Central, Leccino, Toscana, Medium

Torre Bianca, Internacional – Italy – Central, Correggiolo/Leccio Del Corno, Toscana, Medium

Ghermanu, International – Italy – Islands, Nera di Oliena, Sardegna DOP, Robust

Hacienda Iber, International – Spain – North, Arbequina, Aragón

Hacienda Iber, International – Spain – North, Unico, Aragón

Durius All Natural, International – Spain – North, Manzanilla/Cacerena/Picual, Spain, Medium

Rincon de la Subbetica, International – Spain – South, Hojiblanco, DOP Preigo de Cordoba

Laleli Olive Oils, International – Turkey, Organic, Adremittion, Edremit Bay, Medium

Las Piedras, International – Chile Mono Cultivar, Arbequina, Pencahue, Medium