The Croatian producer from northwest Istria earned another top honor for a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil.
Olive Oil Times |
Verteneglio, Croatia — OPG Bursic Marija has been awarded a Gold at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the De Kleva brand.
OPG Bursic Marija produces De Kleva as a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil. From the Bursic family’s olive groves in northwest Istria, south of Verteneglio, De Kleva is distinguished by crisp vegetal tones recalling artichoke and arugula, with chicory and radish notes adding bite and a green almond nuance rounding out the profile.
The award adds to a long record of success for OPG Bursic Marija at the NYIOOC. De Kleva’s 2026 Gold brings the producer’s overall competition history to nine Gold Awards and one Silver Award, reflecting consistent results across multiple editions, including Gold Awards in 2014 and every year from 2019 through 2025, as well as a Silver Award in 2017.
In Istria, olive oil production is closely tied to local identity, and the Bursic family frames the work in personal terms. For the Bursic family, olive oil signifies tradition, culture and fun all at the same time, a perspective rooted in the daily rhythms of grove work in the hills and plains of Croatia’s leading olive oil region.
Croatian producers have become an increasingly visible presence at the NYIOOC in recent years. In 2018, among 45 Croatian brands entered, 40 were awarded at the competition, underscoring the country’s momentum on the world stage and the depth of quality emerging from regions such as Istria.
The 2026 NYIOOC Gold places De Kleva among the world’s elite extra virgin olive oils. In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, OPG Bursic Marija is ranked #9 in Croatia, #55 in the Northern Hemisphere and #58 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.