The California State Fair recently held its inaugural Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Competition, and the winning oils will be proudly displayed during the California Exposition and State Fair – July 10-26, 2015.
The Extra-Virgin Olive Exhibit is located in California Building-B, with experts on hand to answer everything you want to know about olive oil. Fair-goers will also have the unique opportunity to taste many of the award-winning oils and meet some of the producers (check daily schedule).
I am proud to announce that my “OlioWheel” is featured in the interactive display for a hands-on consumer experience on pairing olive oils and food (See photo above).
I have lived in California for much of my life and I appreciate the amazing agricultural resources the Golden State provides not only to its citizens but to the world.
Although, new to the industry by Mediterranean standards, California olive oil is not as new as you might think. Father Junipero Serra and his fellow Spanish missionaries are credited for introducing the olive to California in the late 1700’s by planting the noble tree in the many missions from San Diego to Sonoma.
So, if you are in the Sacramento area during what locals refer to as the “best 17 days of summer” take the family to the fair and stop by the California Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Exhibit. We can talk about two of my favorite subjects and hopefully yours: olive oil and food. I’ll be happy to answer your questions (even the ones you didn’t think to ask) and you can taste some of California’s finest oil!
Fruitiness, Bitterness and Pungency are the three positive sensory attributes of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. All extra-virgin olive oil should have a recognizable aroma/taste of fresh, healthy olive fruit, referred to as fruitiness. The bitterness and pungency (inherent elements in fresh olives) will vary with the intensity level.
The terms Delicate, Medium and Robust are used to describe the fruitiness intensity levels of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and are determined by many factors. The variety of olive (cultivar), its maturity at harvest and the producer’s decisions before, during and after the milling process are paramount.
Delicate oils possess a barely perceptible bitterness and/or pungency, a light fruitiness and are mild and delicate.
Medium oils have a favorable bitterness and/or pungency with pronounced ripe and/or green fruitiness.
Robust oils are bold and assertive. They have a distinct bitterness and/or pungency and possess an intense fruitiness.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oils are judged in these three categories: Delicate, Medium, Robust. Using the OlioWheel will help you pair the oils with particular foods.
I have listed the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners in alphabetical order and in the category (Delicate, Medium or Robust) they won. For your convenience, I’ve also included the links (when one was available) to the producer’s website. The list is complete, however, I’m still working on the links.
2015 Judging Results
BEST OF SHOW EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
The Olive Press – Sevillano Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
BEST OF DIVISION EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
Single Variety Delicate – The Olive Press – Sevillano Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Single Variety Medium – Oils of Paicines – Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Blend Delicate – Buckeye Creek – Frantoio
Blend Medium – Apollo Olive Oil – Mistral
Blend Robust – Ternero Farms – Picual
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Show Medal Winners
Azul y Oro – Estate Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – Medium Blend – Gold
Bava Family Grove – Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – Medium Blend – Bronze
Bella Sun Luci – Arbequina Olive Oil – Delicate Single Variety – Silver
Bozzano Olive Ranch – Dewey’s Manzanillo – Medium Single Variety – Silver
Bozzano Olive Ranch – Dewey’s Ascolano – Medium Single variety – Silver
Bozzano Olive Ranch -Organic Coratina – Robust Single Variety – Gold
Bozzano Olive Ranch – Organic Bosana – Robust Single Variety – Silver
Buckeye Creek – Frantoio – Delicate Blend – Gold & Best of Division
Buckeye Creek – Coratina- Medium Blend – Silver
Butte View – Ascolano – Medium Single Variety – Bronze
California Olive Ranch – Arbequina – Medium Single Variety – Silver
California Olive Ranch – Miller’s Blend – Medium Blend – Silver
Calistoga Olive Oil – Vina Esperanza – Medium Blend – Bronze
Calistoga Olive Oil – Madrona Tree – Robust Blend – Silver
Capay Gold -Hojiblanca – Delicate Single Variety – Bronze
Chasewater – Organic Allegra – Robust single Variety – Silver
Chasewater – California Mission – Medium Blend – Bronze
Cobram Estate – Ultra premium Picual- Medium Single Variety – Gold
Cobram Estate – Ultra Premium Mission – Robust Single Variety – Gold
Corto Olive Oil – Koroneiki – Medium Single Variety – Silver
D’Oliva Olive Oil – Medium Blend
Dry Creek Olive Company -Mediterranean Blend – Medium Blend – Silver
Dry Creek Olive Company – Alta Mesa Blend – Robust Blend – Gold
Dry Creek Olive Company – Trattore Farms Blend – Robust Blend – Silver
Enzo Olive Oil – Organic Arbequina – Delicate Single Variety – Bronze
Enzo Olive Oil – Organic Arbosana – Medium Single Variety – Silver
Enzo Olive Oil – Organic Koroneiki – Medium Single Variety – Bronze
Gallo Family – Koroneiki Blend -Medium Blend – Gold
Grewal Farms – Koroneiki Blend Medium Blend – Bronze
Grumpy Goats Farm – Picual – Robust Single Variety – Silver
Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company – Pendolino – Robust Single Variety – Silver
Katz Farm – Organic Chef’s Pick – Robust Blend – Gold
Mangini Ranch – Unfiltered Mission – Medium Single Variety – Silver
Apollo Olive Oil – Mistral – Medium Blend – Gold & Best of Division
Moon Shadow Grove – Organic Ascolano – Medium Single Variety – Gold
Moon Shadow Grove – Organic Mission – Robust Single Variety – Silver
Moon Shadow Grove – Organic Manzanillo – Robust Single Variety – Silver
Moon Shadow Grove – Organic Miscela – Robust Blend – Silver
Oils of Paicines – Organic Mission – Medium Single Variety – Gold & Best of Division
Olive Leaf Hills -Tuscan Blend -Medium Blend – Gold
Olive Leaf Hills – Minerva Blend – Medium Blend -Bronze
Organic Roots – Arbequina – Medium Single Variety – Silver
Rancho El Molino – Medium Blend – Bronze
Ruscello d Inverno – Medium Blend – Silver
Sierra – Sierra – Robust Blend -Gold
SLO 220 – Medium Blend -Bronze
Ternero Farms – Mission – Robust Single Variety – Bronze
Ternero Farms – Picual – Robust Blend – Gold
The Olive Press – Sevillano – Delicate Single Variety – Gold, Best of Division & Best of Show
The Olive Press – Mission – Delicate Single Variety – Silver
The Olive Press – Arbequina – Medium Single Variety -Bronze
The Olive Press – Picual – Robust Single Variety -Silver
Triple Play or Renfree Farms – Coaches Blend – Medium Single Variety – Bronze
Winter Creek -Delicate Single Variety – Silver
BEST OF SHOW FLAVORED OIL
Sciabica’s Jalapeno
BEST OF DIVISION
Chili-based Flavored Olive Oil – Sciabica’s – Jalapeno
Citrus-Flavored Olive Oil – The Olive Press – Blood Orange Olive Oil
Flavored Olive Oil Show Medal Winners
Calivirgin – Buddha’s Hand Citron – Citrus Flavored Oil – Silver
Calivirgin – Oh! Oregano – Herbal Flavored Oil – Silver
Calivirgin – Extreme Heat Serrano – Chili-based Flavored Oil – Silver
Calivirgin – Hot Virgin Jalapeno Flavor Crush Oil – Chili-based Flavored Oil – Bronze
Calivirgin – Jalapeno Garlic – Chili-based Flavored Oil – Bronze
Dry Creek Olive Company – Lime -Citrus Flavored Oil – Silver
Dry Creek Olive Company -Meyer Lemon -Citrus Flavored Oil – Bronze
Dry Creek Olive Company -Blood Orange – Citrus Flavored Oil – Bronze
Enzo Olive Oil – Meyer Lemon Infused Organic – Citrus Flavored Oil – Silver
Enzo Olive Oil – Garlic Infused – Any Other Flavored Oil – Gold
MoonShadow Grove – Mandarin Orange – Citrus Flavored Oil – Gold
MoonShadow Grove – Meyer Lemon – Citrus Flavored Oil – Silver
Sciabica’s – Basil – Herbal Flavored Oil – Gold
Sciabica’s – Jalapeno- Chili-based Flavored Oil – Gold & Best of Show
Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods – Meyer Lemon Infused Olive Oil – Citrus Flavored Oil – Silver
Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods – Oregano Infused Olive Oil – Herbal Flavored Oil – Silver
Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods – Basil Infused Olive Oil – Herbal Flavored Oil – Bronze
Sutter Buttes Natural and Artisan Foods – Citrus Habanero Infused Olive Oil – Any Other Flavored Oil – Silver
The Olive Press – Limonata Olive Oil – Citrus Flavored Oil -Gold
The Olive Press – Blood Orange Olive Oil – Citrus Flavored Oil – Gold & Best of Division
The Olive Press – Lime Olive Oil – Citrus Flavored Oil – Gold
The Olive Press – Clementine Olive Oil – Citrus Flavored Oil – Silver
