The robust South African extra virgin olive oil earned a Gold Award at the world’s leading quality competition.
Olive Oil Times |
Western Cape, South Africa — Rio Largo Olive Estate has been awarded a Gold at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for the Rio Largo Premium brand.
Rio Largo Olive Estate produced Rio Largo Premium as a robust-intensity extra virgin olive oil, distinguished by vivid arugula and leafy notes alongside green pepper, eucalyptus aromatics and a firm black pepper finish. Careful attention to detail from grove to mill helps preserve the oil’s freshness and expressive character.
Owned by Nick and Brenda Wilkinson, Rio Largo Olive Estate is situated in the Western Cape on Africa’s southern tip in the Karoo semi-desert. With a climate and terroir well-suited to olive growing, Rio Largo Olive Estate has focused on strict standards in the groves and the adoption of biodynamic farming practices, reflecting an approach in which process discipline is treated as essential to quality.
Nick Wilkinson, a chartered accountant who shifted into olive production, has guided Rio Largo Olive Estate’s steady presence on the international competition circuit for more than a decade. Since 2010, Rio Largo Olive Estate has brought home awards for its proudly South African extra virgin olive oil, underscoring a long-term strategy centered on consistent execution rather than one-off success.
The 2026 Gold continues Rio Largo Olive Estate’s strong record at the NYIOOC, where the producer has earned six Gold and two Silver awards overall. Recent results include Gold awards in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025, and Silver awards in 2018 and 2024, reflecting sustained performance across multiple harvests.
The latest recognition comes as South African producers have continued to expand their footprint at the World Competition, with Olive Oil Times reporting a record-tying national haul of nine awards in a recent edition of the contest—more than twice the number earned in 2020. Within that broader context, Rio Largo Olive Estate’s repeat appearances among award winners have helped reinforce South Africa’s growing reputation for quality extra virgin olive oil.
In the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, Rio Largo Olive Estate is ranked #3 in South Africa, #12 in the Southern Hemisphere and #65 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.