Spedalotto Tonda Iblea DOP and Frescobaldi Laudemio were recognized among the world’s best extra virgin olive oils.
Olive Oil Times |
New York, United States — Manicaretti Italian Food Importers has been awarded two Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, earning top honors for Spedalotto Tonda Iblea DOP and Frescobaldi Laudemio.
Manicaretti Italian Food Importers received a Gold for Spedalotto Tonda Iblea DOP, a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil produced from Tonda Iblea olives. The oil is distinguished by herbaceous notes, fig leaf and chicory, with radish emerging on the palate alongside a measured spice.
The importer also earned a Gold Award for Frescobaldi Laudemio, a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil crafted from Frantoio olives, reinforcing Manicaretti Italian Food Importers’ record of selecting oils that perform consistently on the international stage.
Manicaretti is an importer and wholesaler of fine Italian foods to retailers and restaurants. Rolando Beramendi founded Manicaretti in 1988 to bring products from Italy’s regional artisan producers to the United States, building the business around a hands-on approach to sourcing and an emphasis on freshness and quality.
Beramendi’s entry into the category began in northern Italy in 1987, when he prepared dinner for his newly anointed in-laws and encountered a basket of ingredients that changed how he thought about what American consumers could find on shelves. After completing his degree in agricultural economics at the University of California, Davis, Beramendi returned to California and began importing unfiltered extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany, later moving to New York City in 1995 as the market shifted and logistical demands reshaped the business.
In a 2020 interview with Olive Oil Times, Beramendi described traveling to taste oils and meet producers harvest by harvest, arguing that the work behind high-quality extra virgin olive oil is shared across farms, mills and harvest crews. He also recalled an earlier moment in the U.S. market when olive oil sat “on the bottom shelf of the ethnic food aisle,” and said demonstrations and tastings were crucial to introducing consumers to fresher styles of extra virgin olive oil.
At the NYIOOC, Manicaretti Italian Food Importers has compiled an extensive record, with 50 Gold and 12 Silver Awards across 62 total distinctions. Recent results include four Gold Awards in 2025 and four Gold Awards and one Silver Award in 2024, underscoring continuity in the company’s performance at the competition over more than a decade.
Manicaretti Italian Food Importers appears in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, reflecting the cumulative results of the company’s award-winning entries over time.
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.