South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) producers are proving, once again, that quality, not scale, is what defines true excellence. In 2025, local olive farms earned some of the highest honours at major international competitions, outshining global heavyweights despite South Africa representing only 0.99% of the global olive oil market in 2024/2025.
In an industry dominated by Mediterranean powerhouses such as Spain, Italy, and Greece – countries responsible for roughly 95% of global olive oil production – South Africa’s achievements are extraordinary. For comparison, in 2020 Spain produced over 1.8 billion litres of olive oil, while South Africa produces around 1.6 million litres per annum currently, of which 90% is consumed locally.
This international success highlights a simple truth: South Africa’s EVOO is globally competitive because it is crafted to the highest standards, a quality further affirmed by the Commitment to Compliance (CTC) Seal. The SA Olive CTC seal ensures every bottle meets strict criteria for authenticity, purity, freshness, flavour, and sensory excellence, allowing South African oils to stand out and provide consumers with quality assurance.
A year of unprecedented recognition
The 2025 season has been particularly remarkable for South African producers, with estates across the country collecting prestigious awards from competitions spanning four continents. While global awards often favour larger countries that submit hundreds of entries, South Africa’s producers continue to triumph and promote national pride.
Babylostoren made its mark at the Olio Nuovo Days Southern Edition in Paris, claiming the coveted Best Blend of Show award for their Blend 2025. The estate also secured a Premium Gold Medal for their Coratina 2025 and Gold Medal recognition for their Frantoio 2025, establishing them as a force to be reckoned with in international competitions.
De Rustica Estate emerged as one of the year’s standout performers, with their Coratina variety earning exceptional recognition across multiple prestigious competitions. At the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, they claimed Gold, while the Aurora International Taste Challenge awarded them Double Gold for their Coratina and Gold for their Medium blend. Perhaps most impressively, their Coratina achieved an outstanding 97/100 rating at the Evooleum Top 100 Awards, earning the distinction of Second Best in the World.
The estate’s success continued at the Dubai Olive Oil Competition with Gold medals for both their Coratina and Medium varieties, followed by Double Gold at the Carthage International Olive Oil Competition. Their excellence was further validated by the Mario Solinas Quality Award, where they again achieved Second Best in the World status, and Flos Olei 2025 recognition with an impressive 93/100 rating.
Lions Creek Estate demonstrated the versatility of South African terroir with multiple varietal successes. Their Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil earned Gold at the New York International Olive Oil Competition and Double Gold at the Aurora International Taste Challenge. The estate’s Karoo Blend secured Silver at Aurora, while their Frantoio variety claimed Silver at the SA Olive Awards and Gold at Aurora International.
Mardouw Olive Estate distinguished itself as a true ambassador for Southern Hemisphere olive oil production. At the EVO IOOC in Italy, their XXV Intense was recognised as the Best International Southern Hemisphere entry, with their XXV Medium and XXV Limited Edition also receiving Gold recognition. The estate’s dominance continued at Argentina’s Olivinus International Competition, where they claimed the Best of South Africa title alongside multiple Grand Prestige Gold awards and recognition for Best Monovarietal EVOO Series Design.
Japan’s discerning palate proved equally appreciative, with Mardouw earning four Gold Medals at the Japan Olive Oil Prize for their complete XXV range. London’s International Olive Oil Competition awarded them Platinum status for their XXV Medium, with Gold recognition for their XXV Intense and XXV Medium Limited editions. Tunisia’s prestigious Carthage competition honoured them with three Double Gold Medals, while Berlin’s Global Olive Oil Awards recognised their commitment to excellence with Double Gold and Elite Awards.
Morgenster Olive Estate achieved what many consider the pinnacle of olive oil recognition, earning an exceptional 99/100 rating in the Flos Olei Guide 2026 for their Blue Label EVOO, placing them among the world’s most elite producers.
Rio Largo Olive Estate demonstrated consistent excellence across international markets, earning Platinum Medal and Best in Class recognition at Amsterdam’s International Olive Oil Competition. Their stellar performance continued with a 98/100 rating from Italy’s Flos Olei guide and dual Gold Medals at the Olive Japan International EVOO Competition. Paris recognised their quality with Premium Gold Medal and Premium Gold Distinction, along with Top 10 ranking at Olio Nuovo Days, while the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition listed them among the Best Olive Oils of 2025.
Riverbend Farm added to the national celebration with Gold recognition at the Aurora International Taste Challenge, while Tokara achieved the impressive triple crown of Double Gold at Aurora International, 98 points from Flos Olei, and Gold at the NYIOOC.
Willow Creek Estate perhaps best exemplified the breadth of South African olive oil excellence, with their Estate Blend collecting Gold medals across six major international competitions, from Italy’s EVOO International contest to Canada’s International Olive Oil Competition. Their Director’s Reserve proved even more exceptional, claiming the prestigious Best from Africa Award first prize at the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest and earning 93 points for Gran Prestigio Oro recognition at OLIVINUS 2025.
Willow Creek also demonstrated innovation in flavoured oils, with their Basil and Lemon varieties earning Platinum recognition at London IOOC 2025, their Jalapeño blend securing Gold, and their Garlic variety claiming Silver—proving that South African creativity extends beyond traditional varietals.
Wendy Petersen, CEO of SA Olive, captured the collective sentiment of the industry’s remarkable year: “These accolades from the world’s leading olive oil competitions reinforce the exceptional quality of locally produced EVOO and showcase South Africa’s growing influence on the global olive oil landscape. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to every producer whose dedication has earned international acclaim this year.”
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