The hills-above-Verona producer earned Golds for Campo Storico and Campo delle Marogne, continuing a quality-first record at the world’s leading olive oil contest.
Olive Oil Times |
Verona, Italy — Azienda Agricola Cordioli Erminio & C has been awarded two Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Campo Storico and Campo delle Marogne brands.
Azienda Agricola Cordioli Erminio & C earned a Gold for Campo Storico, a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil made from Pendolino and Grignano. The producer also received a Gold for Campo delle Marogne, a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil produced from Frantoio.
Both winning oils are marked by a fresh, green character, distinguished by aromas and flavors that recall arugula and newly cut grass, with artichoke, wild herbs and a hint of eucalyptus adding lift and complexity through the finish.
Set in the hills above Verona, the Cordioli farm grows varieties typical of the area, including Grignano and Favarol, alongside other Italian cultivars such as Frantoio, Itrana and Moraiolo. In a region better known for Valpolicella wine, the husband-and-wife team behind Azienda Agricola Cordioli Erminio & C has built its olive oil program around close attention to grove work and a deliberate focus on quality over quantity.
That approach has been shaped by the distinctive conditions of one of Italy’s northernmost olive-growing areas, where yields can be lower and the season’s outcome is strongly influenced by weather. The farm’s groves are divided into separate lots with different cultivar compositions, allowing Azienda Agricola Cordioli Erminio & C to craft distinct blends tied to specific sites and plantings.
Among those sites are terraced plots edged by traditional dry-stone walls known locally as marogne, which support the terraces and help protect the soil from erosion. Co-owner Erminio Cordioli undertook major restoration work on these structures, reviving an element of the local agricultural landscape while strengthening the long-term resilience of the hillside orchards.
The farm’s work also includes careful harvest and processing decisions informed by regular tasting and technical feedback during milling. A day-by-day approach through the harvest season helps the producer safeguard the style and consistency of its oils, while storage practices are aimed at preserving freshness so bottling can be carried out in smaller lots when needed.
Since 2012, Azienda Agricola Cordioli Erminio & C has consistently earned recognition for its extra virgin olive oils, and the 2026 results extend that record at the NYIOOC. The producer’s full competition history now stands at six Gold Awards and no Silvers, including two Golds in 2025 and a Gold in 2023.
The two 2026 Gold Awards place Azienda Agricola Cordioli Erminio & C among Italy’s top-performing producers in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, where the Verona-area producer is ranked #38 in Italy, #76 in the Northern Hemisphere and #80 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.