Local olive oils judged ‘best in class’ 

Martinborough olive growers say this area produces great olive oil  ..  and international judges agree.  

Five Martinborough growers took home 15 Gold Medal or higher awards between them at the Olives New Zealand Awards held in Masterton in October.

Five growers – Rod Lingard (Il Falcone), Helen and John Meehan (Olivo), Colin and Diane Hadley (Left Field), Ross Vintiner and Andrea Stewart (Dali),  Mike and Margaret Hanson (Blue Earth) – were awarded the prestigious Best in Class.   

Best in Class awards are selected from Gold Medallists,  and between the five growers there were 9 Gold Medals. 

Best in Class Single Variety EVOO winners are Rod Lingard for Il Falcone Korako, Helen and John Meehan for Olivo Koroneiki, and Ross Vintiner and Andrea Stewart for Dali Frantoio; Best in Class Blends winners are Colin and Diane Hadley for Left Field Tuscan Blend and Mike and Margaret Hanson for Blue Earth Classic.  Rod Lingard’s Gold Lime Infused Oil was awarded Best Flavoured (Citrus).  

Wairarapa olive oil producers took a clean sweep of the top awards and dominated the 2018 New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards, with nearly  half the 130 awards going to Wairarapa growers. 

Best in Show went to Loopline Olives Picholene varietal and Best in Boutique went to Juno Olive Oil’s Picual varietal. 

They agreed the season had provided the right combination of hot and cool weather, not too much or not too little rainfall at the right times, and few frosts as the fruit ripened. 

All the judges are experts from around the world, and one commented that “the oils were an absolute delight.  I found gold medal oils across all of the classes I judged”.   

Several of the winning oils can found at The Martinborough Wine Centre or P&K.