K¯apiti Olives come out on top as 81 oils hit gold status
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the huge choice of extra-virgin olive oils on offer, then the results of the 2021 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards will help.
And it was Kāpiti and Wairarapa olive oil makers that took top honours this year, winning all five major awards for olive oil excellence.
Best in Show went to Kāpiti Frantoio Blend. Kā piti Olives is a commercial-sized grove of 2300 trees close to the Otaki River.
Owned by David and Helen
Walshaw, Kā piti Olives is one of the few olive groves in New Zealand that supply a range for supermarkets as well as specialist food stores.
They have previously won Best in Show on two occasions, and have also been awarded Gold at the prestigious New York International Olive Oil Competition.
The Best Boutique award was won by Tauherenikau – Olive2oil, Wairarapa.
Tauherenikau Olives is a medium-sized grove of almost 1300 trees near Greytown, owned by Rod and Elaine Corlett.
The Reserve Best in Show award went to Blue Earth Intense, Wairarapa. Hanson Farm Partnership that produces the Blue Earth Olive Oil is owned by Mike and Margaret Hanson. Located on the outskirts of Martinborough, this is a medium-sized grove of around 1000 trees.
The best Reserve Best Boutique was won by Totara Tunnel Frantoio, Kā piti. Totara Tunnel is a boutique grove of around 550 trees located on the Kāpiti Coast and owned by Brent Meldrum and Sally Murrey. Totara Tunnel is one of the few olive groves in New Zealand following organic practices and all three of their entries in the 2021 NZ EVOO Awards won Gold medals.
Best Flavoured Oil was Pressed Gold Midori No Yuzu, Wairarapa. Pressed Gold is the brand of The Olive Press in Greytown, Wairarapa.
The Olive Press manages a number of groves across the Wairarapa and Kāpiti and specialises in the production of Extra Virgin as well as flavoured olive oils.
The Midori No Yuzu was produced by processing fresh Yuzu fruit with Frantoio olives ‘‘agrumato style’’.