The Croatian producer earned top honors for a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil made from Leccino, Pendolino and Istarska Bjelica.
Olive Oil Times |
Olive Oil Times
Istria, Croatia — Mare Nostrum has been awarded a Gold at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the villa Olive brand.
Mare Nostrum produced villa Olive from Leccino, Pendolino and Istarska Bjelica olives, resulting in a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil distinguished by layered notes of artichoke and green tomato, fresh herb and arugula aromatics, and a black pepper finish.
According to Mare Nostrum, the origins of villa Olive trace back to a first home in Istria, Villa Olive, where 200-year-old olive trees in the garden yielded the first bottle of extra virgin olive oil. Mare Nostrum has since planted 2,000 olive trees, and harvesting olives and producing olive oil has become part of a family ritual.
The NYIOOC Gold places villa Olive among the world’s elite extra virgin olive oils. In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Mare Nostrum is ranked #57 in Croatia, #125 in the Northern Hemisphere and #128 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.