Wild Olives Wins Gold for ‘Olivaia’s OLA’ Brand

Olivaia’s OLA from the United States won two Gold awards at the 2024 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's largest olive oil quality contest.

After a devastating crop, a win at the NYIOOC is positive news that reaffirms that our farming practices and milling processes made the most of the olives we did have.

Giulio Zavolta, co-owner

The California producer earned its ninth and tenth World Competition accolades for its OLA Block X Heirloom brand, a medium blend, and its OLA Block X Super Blend brand, a delicate blend.

"After a devastating crop, a win at the NYIOOC is positive news that reaffirms that our farming practices and milling processes made the most of the olives we did have," said co-owner Giulio Zavolta.

"We were able to produce at least the same level of extra virgin olive oil quality that our customers have grown accustomed to," he added. "This is something to celebrate despite the financial stress of a low crop."

Along with Manzanilla and Nocellara olives, Olivaia’s OLA also harvests century-old wild olive trees to produce its award-winning blends.

"The biggest challenged faced was the unexpected and unprecedented low crop," Zavolta said. "After multiple years of drought we had unprecedented winter rain. While we had a ton of bloom we also had an unprecedented amount of cold days in May that affected fruit set. It was so low that it was a challenge to traditionally harvest our olives."

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world's preeminent olive oil quality contest. Its annual list of award winners is the authoritative guide to the world's best olive oils and the dedicated producers who craft them.

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.