Terra Creta, Terra Creta Organic and Terra Creta Grand Cru were each recognized for Koroneiki extra virgin olive oils of medium intensity.
Olive Oil Times |
Kolymvari, Greece — Melissa Kikizas SA has been awarded three Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for Terra Creta, Terra Creta Organic and Terra Creta Grand Cru.
All three winning entries are medium-intensity monovarietal extra virgin olive oils made from Koroneiki olives. The award-winning profile is expressed through a fresh aromatic register, distinguished by herbal notes alongside artichoke, radish, flowers and a hint of red fruits, a combination that reflects careful processing aimed at preserving the cultivar’s character.
Melissa Kikizas SA produces Terra Creta extra virgin olive oil in state-of-the-art facilities, working to reduce environmental impact while emphasizing sustainability and teamwork best practices. Terra Creta belongs to Melissa-Kikizas SA, a third-generation Greek family company, with production centered in Kolymvari on the western side of Crete, a region long associated with olive cultivation and quality-focused olive oil making.
In earlier reporting, Terra Creta executives described a holistic approach to production designed to support transparency and sustainability from the grove through bottling. Terra Creta has worked with two separate groups of local olive growers under a collaborative model developed internally, a framework intended to improve agronomic practices while supporting consistent quality outcomes.
Operational changes have been tied to specific farm-level practices, including minimal to zero harrowing of the soil, avoiding the burning of crop residues such as branches and twigs and using plant-protection products friendly to pollinators while avoiding chemical pesticides. Terra Creta has also highlighted efforts to strengthen traceability, enabling consumers to track the origin of the olive oil they buy.
Terra Creta’s education-focused work has continued through the Terra Creta Olive Academy, which is intended to enhance collaboration with farmers and provide educational and smart farming tools to improve both the quality and quantity of Terra Creta extra virgin olive oils using environmentally friendly practices.
Recognition at the 2026 NYIOOC builds on an established competition record for Melissa Kikizas SA. Across its full NYIOOC history, Melissa Kikizas SA has earned 14 Gold and six Silver Awards, including three Gold Awards in 2025, one Gold and two Silver Awards in 2024, three Gold Awards in 2023, one Gold and one Silver Award in 2022, three Gold Awards in 2021, two Silver Awards in 2020 and one Silver Award in 2018.
The 2026 results place Melissa Kikizas SA among the highest-performing producers in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, ranked #3 in Greece, #29 in the Northern Hemisphere and #30 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.