The Sicilian producer was recognized for Verde and U'Ciuri, two medium-intensity extra virgin olive oils from distinct local cultivars.
Olive Oil Times |
Western Sicily, Italy — Miceli & Sensat has been awarded two Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, recognized for Verde and U'Ciuri.
At the 2026 competition, Verde earned a Gold Award in the medium category, produced from Cerasuola olives. U'Ciuri also received a Gold Award in the medium category, crafted from Nocellara del Belice, a cultivar closely associated with western Sicily’s olive-growing tradition.
Miceli & Sensat was founded by Paolo Miceli and Sergio Sensat, whose interest in extra virgin olive oil began several generations back. The founders farm an organic olive grove spanning 115 hectares, with 46,000 olive trees across five varieties: Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla, Cerasuola, Arbequina and Picual.
Across the award-winning profile, Miceli & Sensat’s extra virgin olive oils are distinguished by flavors and aromatics that recall artichoke, almond and arugula, supported by a medium-intensity structure suited to a wide range of foods.
Miceli & Sensat processes its olives within two hours of harvesting at its company mill, a short window designed to protect freshness and limit oxidation from the earliest stages. After extraction, Miceli & Sensat stores its extra virgin olive oils in a cellar using noble gases and controlled temperatures, practices intended to preserve organoleptic qualities over time.
The 2026 results add to Miceli & Sensat’s established performance at the NYIOOC. Miceli & Sensat has earned nine Gold Awards and no Silver Awards overall, with two Gold Awards in 2025, two in 2024, two in 2023 and one in 2022, before adding two more Gold Awards in 2026.
Beyond production, Miceli & Sensat has positioned its farm in western Sicily as an investment in the region and community, reflecting a forward-looking approach that links agricultural work with broader local impacts.
The two Gold Awards place Miceli & Sensat among the top-performing producers in this year’s results. In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Miceli & Sensat is ranked #18 in Italy, #58 in the Northern Hemisphere and #59 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.