The medium-intensity Manaki monovarietal from Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula earned a Silver Award at the world’s leading olive oil quality contest.
Olive Oil Times |
Ermione, Greece — Olivian Groves has been awarded a Silver at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Hermione brand.
Hermione is an extra virgin olive oil of medium intensity, produced from Manaki olives cultivated in the Peloponnese peninsula. The oil is distinguished by a clean, savory profile that evokes radish and olive leaf, rounded out by ripe olive character, a combination that reflects the variety’s gentle structure and the careful handling of fruit from grove to mill.
Olivian Groves is a major owner and cultivator of olive trees in southern Greece, with two principal growing areas: one in the broader region of Kalamata and Messinia and another in Ermione and Argolis. The producer extracts, bottles and trades extra virgin olive oil under two main labels, Hrysos for its PDO-certified Kalamata olive oil and Hermione for its Ermione olive oil produced from Manaki, a relatively rare Greek variety known for its distinctive sensory attributes.
Founded in 2019, Olivian Groves has combined traditional cultivation with modern techniques in an effort to support quality-focused production in the Peloponnese. According to previously published reporting, Olivian Groves cultivates about 40,000 olive trees on two farms in Argolida and Messenia, drawing on the region’s mountainous terrain and mature groves, including centenarian trees, to produce oils shaped by local conditions. In Argolida, the Hermione groves sit near one of Greece’s oldest settlements, while the Messenia holdings are located near the archaeological site of Ancient Messene.
“Olive tree cultivation in Greece dates back thousands of years and has been passed down from generation to generation, following the same procedures,” said Mary Savvas, general manager at Olivian Groves. “Manual work was predominantly due to the mountainous nature of the groves.”
“We are very proud to receive the award,” said Savvas, general manager at Olivian Groves. “It is the second time we participated, but it is the first time we presented our premium Hermione single estate extra virgin olive oil, the crown of our brand portfolio.”
The 2026 recognition continues Olivian Groves’ record at the NYIOOC, bringing the producer’s competition history to two Silver Awards overall.
The result also improves Olivian Groves’ standing in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, where Olivian Groves is ranked #45 in Greece, #114 in the Northern Hemisphere and #118 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.