The Croatian producer earned Gold Awards for Oio Vivo Rozinjola, Vodnjanska Buža, Žižolera and Bjelica extra virgin olive oils.
Olive Oil Times |
Vodnjan, Croatia — Oleum Maris has been awarded four Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for its Oio Vivo monovarietals.
Oleum Maris earned Gold Awards for Oio Vivo Rozinjola, Oio Vivo Vodnjanska Buža, Oio Vivo Žižolera and Oio Vivo, each certified in the medium intensity category. The four award-winning extra virgin olive oils are produced, respectively, from Rosignola, Buža, Žižolera and Bjelica cultivars, highlighting a focus on Istria’s indigenous varieties.
Across the set of 2026 Gold-winning oils, Oleum Maris’ medium-profile style is marked by herbaceous aromas and green, unripe sensations, with green almond and arugula notes building through the palate and a black pepper finish that lingers.
Founded in 2009 by Velimir Jurić, Martin Milas and Mladen Kocijančić, veterans of the Croatian War of Independence from Vodnjan, Oleum Maris began after receiving a state concession for 80 hectares of burned land. The founders landscaped the rugged terrain and established extensive olive plantings, later joined by investor Vlado Ćorluka, whose support helped advance equipment and technology used to produce the Oio Vivo label, a name that translates as “living oil” or “oil of life.”
Oleum Maris now harvests from 14,500 olive trees on 54 hectares in the south of Istria and cultivates seven olive varieties. The olive groves are situated on the main road between Pula and Vodnjan, on south-facing terrain at about 85 meters above sea level, a location Jurić has said offers views of the Brijuna Islands, the Vodnjan bell tower and the ancient city of Pula.
“Indigenous varieties, integrated cultivation, timely harvesting, fast processing and careful storage are the keys to the first-class quality of our extra virgin olive oil,” said Velimir Jurić, co-founder, Oleum Maris. “The NYIOOC awards are the Oscars for olive growing. They mean a lot to us because they are the best confirmation of our dedication to the quality of our olive oil.”
Oleum Maris’ four Gold Awards in 2026 extend a record of consistent results at the World Olive Oil Competition. Oleum Maris has earned 24 Gold Awards and no Silver Awards overall, including four Golds in each of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, following three Golds in 2020 and one Gold in 2019.
The four Gold Awards also reinforce Oleum Maris’ standing among the world’s top producers. In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Oleum Maris is ranked #2 in Croatia, #22 in the Northern Hemisphere and #23 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.