Margaret River’s Olio Bello, has capped off an historic 21st Harvest, by winning four medals from four entries at the 2019 West Australian Olive Awards this week, including Gold, two Silver and a Bronze.

Organised by the WA Olives Council in affiliation with the Australian Olives Association, the Awards is WA’s premier annual olive oil competition, which runs under the Perth Royal Show banner and attracted 177 oils from 53 entrants, including local and east-coast participants.

One of Olio Bello’s most awarded and previous Gold Medal winning oils: ‘Kurunba’ was awarded a Gold Medal for its excellence and refreshing fruity green banana & guava aroma, while the robust textures of Romanza and popular Asian Sensation received Silver Medals, with the Italian Leccino, receiving a Bronze award.

The 2019 award-winning oils, showcase olive varieties grown across Olio Bello’s 320 acre, certified organic farm near Cowaramup.

Award Summary includes:

1. Gold - Kurunba (Frantoio) Class 2: Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Commercial Volume: 200 litres to 4,999 litres from a single grove.

2. Silver – Romanza (WA Mission) Class 2: commercial volume, single grove: 200-4999 litres

3. Silver- Asian Sensation (Corregiolo-chilli, garlic, ginger) Class 5b: Non-citrus category. Flavoured Olive Oil with volume over 50 litres.

4. Bronze– Leccino Class 2: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Class2 commercial volume 200-4999 litres from a single grove.

Chief Judge, Isabelle Okis, highlighted that Western Australia had produced some of the best oils in years and were of a consistently high standard:

“The top award-winning oils had freshness, vibrancy, were complex and had the distinctive characteristics of a gold medal oil.”

According to Olio Bello’s General Manager Brett Roberts, the awards reflected another outstanding year for the WA industry, with Olio Bello proud to be involved and recognised with a Gold Medal:

“It’s fantastic that one of our first ever oils ‘Kurunba’, which means ‘Spirit of the Land’ and pay’s homage to the property’s unique and breathtaking location in the south west, has won gold on our 21st harvest!”

“The 2019 season was one of the longest on record and despite the challenges that we all experienced, has delivered outstanding results for Olio Bello and the wider region.

“A long and cooler summer climate and the cyclical ‘on-year’ for olives, saw a slower ripening of fruit and resulted in more robust and herbaceous olive oil characteristics, over the 2018 season.

“Our Italian olive varieties Leccino and Frantoio really stole the show this year and displayed some of the highest quality fruit yields of recent years.

“As always, we thank everyone who assisted in this year’s harvest and congratulate all award winners. It’s fantastic to see so many quality oils being produced in WA and we’re extremely proud to be a part of such a world-class industry.”

Olio Bello was also a proud sponsor of the Event in the category of Best Flavoured Oils and pressed around 200 tonnes of olives for local growers in the region during the 2019 season, many of which, also received awards for their high quality oils.

A selection of Olio Bello’s 2019 new season oils are available from the boutique tasting room at the farm and will be available via its online shop in the coming weeks.

Media Enquiries & Images Lisa Garside
0403609439 - lisa.garside@oliobello.com.au

November 06, 2019 — Adam Sullivan

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