Coriole Vineyards from South Australia was named best table olive of the Australian Table Olive competition announced on Tuesday, 28 October at the 12th National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards dinner held in Canberra.
It was a second win in a row for Coriole Vineyards which was also awarded ‘Best Black Olive’ of the competition.
Over 270 olive growers and industry experts attended the gala which honoured the best in the Australian olive industry. The event was hosted by celebrity chef Peter Howard.
Other table olive awards were given to Eagle Vale Olive (WA) for ‘Best Green Olive’ and Don Vica Gourmet Olives (WA) for ‘Best Spiced Olive’. Don Vica Gourmet Olives also received a special mention for ‘top value-added olive with great consumer appeal’.
Now in its third year, the Australian Table Olive ‘Taste off’ competition, sponsored by Plasdene Glass-Pak, attracted 26 entries from around the country.
Celebrity chef Peter Howard joined fellow judges Jim Smyth, member of the Australian Olive Association Table Olive subcommittee, Dr Apostolos Kiritsakis, Greek olive expert and Australian Olive Expo keynote speaker, Stan Kailis, Director of the Australian Mediterranean Olive Research Institute (AMORI) and Kacy Pearson from Plasdene Glass-Pak.
The olives were judged yesterday at the Australian Olive Expo to a marking schedule that included flavour, texture, appearance of blemishes and more.
The competition is unique in that entries must have won an award at their respective state table olive awards.
