Laurel & Flame Fresh, Olymythos Koroneiki and Olymythos Olympia PGI earned Gold Awards, with Laurel & Flame Olympia PGI taking Silver.
Olive Oil Times |
Ancient Olympia, Greece — AMG Karabelas has been awarded a Gold at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Laurel & Flame Fresh brand.
Laurel & Flame Fresh is a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil made from the Botsikoelia cultivar. The extra virgin olive oil is distinguished by green almond and artichoke notes, lifted by arugula and parsley aromatics and a measured black pepper bite that builds on the finish.
AMG Karabelas also earned two additional Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC for Olymythos Koroneiki and Olymythos Olympia PGI, both medium-intensity extra virgin olive oils produced from Koroneiki olives. Laurel & Flame Olympia PGI, a medium-intensity Koroneiki extra virgin olive oil, was awarded a Silver.
Based in the Peloponnese near Ancient Olympia, AMG Karabelas is run by the Karabelas family, which cultivates olives in local groves and produces traceable extra virgin olive oils across the Laurel & Flame and Olymythos ranges. The Karabelas family mills at the Olive Temple, where the team oversees extraction and processes olives within three hours of harvest, a practice aimed at preserving freshness and reducing oxidation.
AMG Karabelas has previously described adapting tactics in response to irregular weather in the region, including periods of excessive spring rain and warmer conditions at harvest time, which prompted frequent checks during production to maintain quality standards. The family has also spoken publicly about the effects of severe storms in the wider area of Ancient Olympia, which can damage fruit and trees and require careful grove work to protect future production.
Beyond the mill, the Karabelas family has integrated transparency into the finished products through the MY ID Project, which enables consumers to scan a QR code on the package for detailed product information. More broadly, AMG Karabelas has been among the Greek producers using the area’s draw as a tourism destination to introduce visitors to extra virgin olive oil through mill-centered experiences.
The 2026 NYIOOC results add to AMG Karabelas’ established competition record. Across its full NYIOOC history, AMG Karabelas has earned 15 awards, including 13 Gold and two Silver, with four Gold Awards in 2025, two Gold and one Silver in 2024, two Gold in 2023 and two Gold in 2022.
The 2026 performance places AMG Karabelas among the top-ranked producers in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, where AMG Karabelas stands at #4 in Greece, #38 in the Northern Hemisphere and #39 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.