At the Olive Growers Mudgee Award held earlier this month, judges noted the overall the standard of oil submitted was of a very high quality, in particular the Delicate oils on the whole exhibited a great range of subtle clean aromas with many characteristics, some with a variety of fruity flavours. On the whole the Delicate and Medium oils had a beautiful balance on the palate and all medal winners had an appropriate pepper finish.
They also noted that cleanliness on the palate and pleasant aftertaste were characteristics of at least 75% of the oils entered this year. All oils, bar one, were satisfactory and certainly well above the standard normally prevalent in supermarkets. A few oils, when tested against the others entered, fell a little short in the area of cleanliness on the palate and the overall harmony. It may well be that those oils were produced from olives that were not processed within a short period of time or those oils may have been slightly affected by travel. These oils are satisfactory but may have deteriorated between being picked and processed. Some Robust oils were indeed very robust and powerful. One of the oils entered in this category is an excellent oil but was actually a delicate oil, certainly delicate on the
day, but nevertheless it received a Silver medal as it was a very good delicate oil. In the Robust and Medium classes, whilst the blended oils were of a good standard overall, they generally suffered in the eyes of the judges a little in comparison this year with single varieties. Oils came from a variety of olives including Corregiola, Manzanilla, Picual, Verdale, Leccino, Koroneiki, Hardys Mammoth, Picholline, Corratina, Barnea and Pendollino with one entry being Nevadilo.
In the Product Awards, there were many entries in olives, including green whole pickled, black whole pickled, flavoured stuffed or macerated olives, salt, sundried olives as well as tapenades, extra virgin olive oil that has been infused with various flavours including chilli, lemon, lime, mandarine and all of these were of a high standard. The judges separated the entries in order of preference on the day. In relation to olive based soaps, shampoos, massage oils, cream and lotions – all entries were of a high standard demonstrating the wonderful uses to which olives and olive oil, when used in an imaginative way, can be put. Some entrants will be disappointed by not being awarded a medal, but the standard was very high and the judges had to consider very carefully their order of preferences.
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL AWARDS – 2008
BEST OIL – 2008
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Early Corregiola – Mudgee
GOLD AWARDS
CLASS 1
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Early Corregiola – Mudgee
VARAPODIO ESTATE – Verdale – Bendigo VIC
LAKELAND OLIVES – Frantoio – Rylstone
MEGALONG OLIVES – Leccino – Megalong Valley
ALTO OLIVES – Hardy’s Mammoth – Rylstone
MONTARO OLIVE GROVES – Corratina – Hillston NSW
CLASS 2
RHAN BARZILAY – Picual/Barnea/Frantoio – Mudgee
RHAN BARZILAY – Barnea Blend – Mudgee
SILVER AWARDS
CLASS 1
BROKES PROMISE – Corregiola – Broke
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Mid Corregiola – Mudgee
LAKELAND OLIVES – Frantoio – Mudgee
WEDGETAIL GROVE – Corregiola – Mudgee
BINNAWEE OLIVES – Frantoio – Mudgee
MEGALONG OLIVES – Frantoio – Megalong Valley
GOORAMADA OLIVES – Hardy’s Mammoth – Victoria
CLASS 2
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Frantoio Blend – Mudgee
COBRAM ESTATE – Barnea/ Coratina/Picual – Berri SA
WEDGETAIL GROVE – Manzanilla/Corregiola blend – Mudgee
BRONZE AWARDS
CLASS 1
COBRAM ESTATE – Picual – Berri SA
BROKES PROMISE – Manzanilla – Broke NSW
LAKELAND OLIVES – Corregiola – 1 – Rylstone
LAKELAND OLIVES – Corregiola – 2 – Rylstone
WEDGETAIL GROVE – Frantoio – Mudgee
ALTO OLIVES – Frantoio – 1 – Rylstone
ALTO OLIVES – Frantoio – 2 – Rylstone
BLACKLEA OLIVES – Leccino – Mudgee
BINNAWEE OLIVES – Corregiola – Mudgee
COBRAM ESTATE – Koroneiki – Berri SA
BLACKLEA OLIVES – Picholline – Mudgee
CLASS 2
LYRIC OLIVES – Corregiola/Manzanillo – Albury NSW
LAKELAND OLIVES – Corregiola/Leccino/Manzanilla – Rylstone
OLIVE PRODUCT AWARDS – 2008
BEST COSMETIC PACKAGING
COLQUHOUN OLIVE MASSAGE OIL – Mudgee
MOST SUCCESSFUL ENTRANT IN THE PRODUCT AWARDS
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS – Queensland
GOLD AWARDS
CLASS 4 – Salt or sundried olives
SUMMERLAND OLIVES – Casino NSW
CLASS 9 – soaps, shampoos, massage oils, creams & lotions
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Mudgee
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS – Queensland
CLASS 10 PACKAGING
OLIVE OIL SOAP COMPANY – Hunter Valley NSW
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Mudgee
SILVER AWARDS
CLASS 1 Green whole pickled olives
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
CLASS 3 – Flavoured, stuffed or macerated olives
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
BINNAWEE OLIVES – Mudgee
CLASS 4 -Salt or sun dried olives
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
CLASS 7 – Infused EVOO
COLQUHOUN OLIVES – Mudgee
CLASS 9 – Soaps, shampoos, massage oils, creams & lotions
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS – Queensland
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS — Queensland
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS — Queensland
BRONZE AWARDS
CLASS 1 – Green whole pickled olives
SUMMERLAND OLIVES – Casino NSW
CLASS 2 – Black/coloured whole pickled olives
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
BINNAWEE OLIVES – Mudgee
CLASS 3 – Flavoured, stuffed or macerated olives
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
CLASS 5 – Tapenades
SUMMERLAND OLIVES – Casino NSW
CLASS 7 – Infused EVOO
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
ALTO OLIVES – Rylstone
CLASS 9 – Soaps, shampoos, massage oils, creams & lotions
OLIVE OIL SOAP COMPANY – Hunter Valley NSW
OLIVE OIL SOAP COMPANY – Hunter Valley NSW
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS – Quennsland
CLASS 10 – Packaging
LAKELAND OLIVES – Rylstone
ALTO OLIVES – Rylstone
LUCE NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS – Quennsland
