San Giuliano Monocultivar Bosana, Primér, Fruttato, Organic and L’Originale were recognized among the year’s award-winning Italian oils.
Olive Oil Times |
Sardinia, Italy — Domenico Manca has been awarded a Silver at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for San Giuliano Monocultivar Bosana.
San Giuliano Monocultivar Bosana is a delicate extra virgin olive oil produced exclusively from Bosana olives, a hallmark cultivar of Sardinia. The oil is marked by fresh notes of grass, offering a light profile that reflects the island’s long-standing olive-growing traditions.
At the 2026 NYIOOC, Domenico Manca also secured four additional Silver Awards, underscoring the breadth of the San Giuliano range. San Giuliano Primér, another delicate expression of Bosana, earned a Silver, as did San Giuliano Fruttato, a delicate blend. Two medium-intensity blends, San Giuliano Organic and San Giuliano L’Originale, rounded out the company’s five-award performance in New York.
Domenico Manca is based in Sardinia, where Domenico Manca S.P.A. draws on the Manca family’s long history of olive oil production. While the oil processing plant is modern, the family has preserved the milling traditions that have characterized its activity since the 1800s, bridging established know-how with contemporary production requirements.
San Giuliano’s history, as chronicled in Olive Oil Times reporting, traces back to 1916, when Domenico Manca and his son, Pasquale, established an olive press in the historic center of Alghero. The company later became known locally for its early adoption of new milling approaches, including the first continuous-cycle oil mill in the region, a shift that produced more aromatic and pungent oils than those obtained through earlier methods.
Working conditions on the island shape both agricultural decisions and the character of the oils. In prior interviews, the Mancas have pointed to wind—particularly the northwesterly mistral—as a defining challenge in Sardinian groves, influencing temperatures and even the form of olive trees. In response, the company has developed an approach to farming and processing that emphasizes careful handling of fruit and efficiency in the mill, with harvest logistics designed to protect quality.
Innovation has also been part of the San Giuliano story. Domenico Manca has described collaboration with the University of Sassari and ongoing investment in updated equipment at the milling plant. Across the farm, different grove designs are used side by side, including traditional, high-density and super-high-density plantings, alongside historic trees that have been maintained as part of the company’s agricultural base.
The 2026 results add to a long record of recognition for Domenico Manca at the NYIOOC. Overall, the producer has earned 38 awards at the competition, including 18 Gold and 20 Silver distinctions, with honors spanning from 2017 through 2025.
In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Domenico Manca is ranked #3 in Italy, #7 in the Northern Hemisphere and #8 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.