The Alentejo producer was recognized for Herdade do Esporão Olival dos Arrifes and Herdade do Esporão Selecção, extending a long record of awards at the world competition.
Olive Oil Times |
Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal — Esporão has been awarded a Silver at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Herdade do Esporão Selecção brand.
Herdade do Esporão Selecção is an extra virgin olive oil of delicate intensity. Produced from Frantoio olives, Herdade do Esporão Selecção reflects Esporão’s focus on careful selection and cold pressing at the olive mill on the Esporão estate, a process intended to preserve the oil’s aromas and flavors.
At the same time, Esporão secured a Gold Award at the 2026 NYIOOC for Herdade do Esporão Olival dos Arrifes, a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil produced from Arbequina olives. Together, the Gold for Herdade do Esporão Olival dos Arrifes and the Silver for Herdade do Esporão Selecção underscored the range of styles Esporão brought to the competition from its Alentejo groves.
Esporão has built its olive oil program around the Alentejo region, where the producer has planted olive trees over time and works to protect native varieties. Esporão uses sustainable processes in an effort to respect nature and people while maintaining strict attention to quality through milling and cold extraction at the estate.
Esporão began producing olive oil in 1997, adding a new chapter to a project that started as a family winery and grew into a multigenerational endeavor. In Alentejo, the producer has also been part of a broader shift in Portuguese olive growing toward modern milling and a stronger emphasis on quality, even as the region has changed significantly with the expansion of intensive groves.
The 2026 results add to Esporão’s established performance at the NYIOOC. Across its full competition history, Esporão has earned 20 awards, including 12 Gold and 8 Silver, with recent honors including five awards in 2025 (three Gold and two Silver) and wins in each year from 2018 through 2024.
In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Esporão is ranked #6 in Portugal, #30 in the Northern Hemisphere and #31 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.