The Quinta do Prado producer was recognized for Acushla Gold Edition and Acushla Cobrançosa, continuing a decade-long record at the world’s leading quality contest.
Olive Oil Times |
Alto Douro, Portugal — Acushla has been awarded two Silver Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for Acushla Gold Edition and Acushla Cobrançosa.
Acushla Gold Edition, a delicate organic extra virgin olive oil, was recognized alongside Acushla Cobrançosa, a medium-intensity monovarietal produced from the Cobrançosa cultivar. Marked by a clean, vegetal character, Acushla Cobrançosa is distinguished by artichoke notes that underscore the variety’s savory profile.
Both oils are produced at the Quinta do Prado estate in Alto Douro, where Acushla cultivates organic olives across an approximately 300-hectare property with about 70,000 olive trees. Production is carried out at a high-tech mill on the estate, which was among the first in Portugal to achieve FSSC 22000 certification.
Acushla’s award-winning approach has been shaped by the project’s founder, Joaquim Moreira, who entered the olive oil sector after decades in the fashion business. In 2004, he redirected his focus toward agriculture, building an organic operation in northeastern Portugal and developing a portfolio that has earned repeated recognition in New York. In earlier years, Moreira described the shift as a return to the land and a long-term commitment to farming practices grounded in sustainability.
Over time, Acushla’s work has also been defined by an emphasis on regional cultivars well suited to local conditions, with Cobrançosa playing a central role. At Quinta do Prado, the terrain and climate of the region have traditionally favored non-intensive cultivation, and the estate’s scale has made it one of the largest organic production areas in the region.
The 2026 results add to Acushla’s established performance at the competition. Acushla has earned a total of 10 NYIOOC awards to date, including four Gold and six Silver distinctions, with accolades spanning multiple years: one Gold in 2021; one Silver in 2020; one Gold and one Silver in 2019; one Gold in 2018; one Gold in 2017; and Silvers in 2023 and 2024.
In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Acushla is ranked #15 in Portugal, #89 in the Northern Hemisphere and #91 Worldwide.
The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, widely regarded as the world’s leading olive oil quality contest, is a trusted reference for consumers and industry professionals.