Sunshine Olive Oil Tuscan Blend and Spanish Oaks Picual were recognized for quality in the world’s leading olive oil competition.
Olive Oil Times |
Templeton, United States — The Sunshine Olive Oil Company has been awarded two Gold Awards at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for Sunshine Olive Oil Tuscan Blend and Spanish Oaks Picual.
The 2026 Gold distinction for Sunshine Olive Oil Tuscan Blend recognizes a medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil marked by fresh herbal tones, fig leaf, grass and artichoke, with a balanced structure that carries the profile through the finish. Spanish Oaks Picual, also awarded Gold in the medium category, is produced from Picual olives and earned recognition for the clarity and consistency expected from the cultivar.
The Sunshine Olive Oil Company traces its roots to a childhood spent among olive orchards and lavender fields in the south of France, where Mediterranean light and an agrarian rhythm shaped an early connection to olive cultivation. After relocating to California, the founders found a familiar rural landscape in Templeton and set out to recreate those memories through planting and producing extra virgin olive oil.
The Sunshine Olive Oil Company’s first harvest took place in 2018. Since then, the operation has expanded with the acquisition of two additional properties, bringing the total to 5.7 hectares of trees as a personal project evolved into a business focused on quality production.
The Sunshine Olive Oil Company’s 2026 results add to an established record at the NYIOOC. Across the producer’s full competition history, The Sunshine Olive Oil Company has earned five Gold Awards and one Silver Award, including two Gold Awards in 2025 and a Gold and Silver in 2024.
The two 2026 Gold Awards also strengthen The Sunshine Olive Oil Company’s standing in the Olive Oil Times World Ranking, where the producer is ranked #23 in the United States, #69 in the Northern Hemisphere and #72 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.