PAARL – South Africa’s finest extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) were celebrated at the 12th annual Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, hosted at Mynhardt’s Kitchen at Cathedral Cellar in Paarl on Wednesday 15 October.
Widely regarded as the highlight of SA’s olive oil industry calendar, the awards acknowledge the most exceptional producers and products from the country. It follows the annual SA Olive Awards, where gold medal-winning EVOOs undergo a further round of meticulous blind tasting by an expert judging panel.
ALSO READ: South African olive producers strike gold at 2025 SA Olive Awards
From this elite group, the 10 most outstanding EVOOs are chosen to receive the prestigious Absa Top 10 accolade.
The 2025 Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Award winners are:
- Mardouw Investments ZA (Pty) Ltd: Mardouw Premium Delicate – Delicate
- De Rustica Estate: De Rustica Delicate – Delicate
- Lions Creek Estate (Pty) Ltd: Picual Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Medium
- Morgenster Estate: Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Medium
- Willow Creek Products (Pty) Ltd: Estate Blend – Medium
- Tokara: Tokara Woolworths Estate EVOO – Medium
- Babylonstoren: Babylonstoren Coratina – Medium
- Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm: Picual – Medium
- Andanté Olives Porterville: Andanté Intenso – Intense
- Rio Largo Olive Estate: Rio Largo Premium – Intense
PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES
The Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, in its 12th year, represent the ongoing partnership between Absa and the SA Olive Industry Association, a collaboration that continues to foster quality, innovation, and sustainability within the South African olive oil sector.
“After 12 years of partnership, our theme ‘Your Story Matters’ reflects the essence of the South African olive industry – one of resilience, craftsmanship, and pride,” said Yolisa Mlungwana, regional segment head at Absa Private Banking.
“Each bottle of locally produced EVOO tells a story of passion, hard work, and connection to the land, setting a global benchmark for quality. Absa is proud to once again be part of these awards, which celebrate excellence while supporting producers in building lasting relationships with retailers, distributors, and buyers.”
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
Wendy Petersen, CEO of the SA Olive Association, added: “The Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards remain the pinnacle of recognition for our local olive producers. It is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary talent, skill, and commitment that define this industry. Our producers continue to deliver world-class EVOOs that rival the best globally, and their pursuit of excellence is truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful to Absa for their unwavering partnership, which has been instrumental in showcasing and growing this remarkable sector.”
Guests at the ceremony enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon hosted by chef Mynhardt Joubert, whose bespoke olive-inspired menu showcased the diversity, flavour, and versatility of South African olives and EVOOs.
Each course paid tribute to the expertise of the producers with dishes such as black olive roosterkoek, roasted lamb with green olives, and olive oil ice-cream, each offering a sensory celebration.
The Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards continue to shine a spotlight on South Africa’s thriving olive oil industry, and the 2025 winners exemplify the best of local production, innovation, and quality, reaffirming South Africa’s place on the global EVOO map.
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