South Africa’s top 10 Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) for 2026 were announced at the Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, held at Eensgezind Function Venue outside Durbanville on Thursday 15 October.

The ceremony brought together the gold medal winners from this year’s SA Olive Awards, celebrating the oils, their producers and the dedication and agricultural excellence driving the country’s olive oil industry forward.

After the SA Olive Awards in September, 33 gold medal-winning oils advanced to a further round of assessment by the expert judging panel, which then selected this year’s top 10 EVOOs.

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The 2026 Absa Top 10 winning oils

Recognition behind every bottle

A place in the Absa Top 10 acknowledges work that begins long before an oil reaches the judging table. From tending the trees and timing the harvest to milling and storing the oil, each step calls for skill and precision.

The results reflect the combined efforts of growers, agricultural workers, millers and producers – every decision shaping the character and quality of the finished bottle.

Through its partnership with SA Olive, Absa helps raise the profile of local olive oil businesses and brings their achievements to a wider audience. The partnership pairs business development with the celebration of excellence, helping producers strengthen their position in local and international markets.

Strong partnership

Shaun Saal, senior marketing specialist at Absa, says: “The Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards celebrate the dedication and ambition of South African producers. Through our long-standing partnership with SA Olive, we want to help turn that recognition into lasting opportunities for their businesses.

“By connecting producers with retailers, distributors and buyers, we aim to help them reach new customers, build stronger brands and grow over the long term. We also want more international markets to discover the exceptional quality of South African Extra Virgin Olive Oils and the people behind them.”

Wendy Petersen, CEO of SA Olive, says: “Every harvest asks something different of a producer. Experience matters, but so does the willingness to observe, adapt and make careful decisions throughout the season.

“These winning oils reflect that balance, and the work of teams whose contribution deserves to be celebrated alongside the finished product. We thank Absa for helping us bring these achievements to a wider audience. Our hope is that these awards encourage more people to explore South African EVOOs, get to know the producers and make local olive oil part of their everyday lives.”

Season worth celebrating

The 2026 Absa Top 10 celebrates a season’s work while showcasing the depth and diversity of South African olive oil production, with each winning oil bringing its own distinctive character to the selection.

As these oils make their way into shops, restaurants and home kitchens, they carry the flavours of this year’s harvest to tables across the country – setting a benchmark for quality and giving the industry a strong foundation as it looks ahead to the next season.

Consumers can find this year’s winning EVOOs on shelves by looking for Absa Top 10 stickers on the top ten oils, alongside SA Olive award stickers identifying this year’s gold, silver and bronze medal winners.

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