Olival dos Arrifes Organic Olive Oil, produced by Esporão, was considered the Best Olive Oil on the Market, at the Concurso Nacional de Azeites de Portugal 2018 (National Portuguese Olive Oil Competition), held at the Feira Nacional de Agricultura (National Agricultural Fair), in Santarém.
Originating from the Olival dos Arrifes olive grove, this terroir olive oil is produced with the Cobrançosa and Arbequina varieties, resulting in an olive oil that is “harmonious, complex, slightly spicy and moderately bitter, a little astringent, with a nutty finish”. The olives come from Herdade do Esporão’s 80-hectare olive grove certified for organic production, and are carefully selected from the field to the olive mill.
Aside from this award, the jury granted gold medals to Olival dos Arrifes Organic Olive Oil in two categories: Organic Olive Oil and Fruity Green Smooth Olive Oil. Galega Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Herdade do Esporão won the silver medal in the Fruity Ripe Olive Oil and the Quinta dos Murças Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil won the bronze medal in the Fruity Green Smooth category. The DOP Norte Alentejano Olive Oil also received a gold medal.
With the new olive mill located at the Estate and inaugurated in 2016, Esporão continues to produce quality olive oils, according to traditional cultural values and using only production processes that preserve the juices extracted from the fruit and their important benefits.
In April 2018, Olival dos Arrifes Organic Olive Oil won the silver medal at the New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYOOC), in the Organic Delicate Blend category.
In May, at the Concurso de Azeite Virgem Feira Nacional de Olivicultura 2018 (Virgin Olive Oil Competition National Olive-Growing Fair), Olival dos Arrifes Organic Olive Oil won the gold medal in the categories Organic Olive Oil and Farm Olive Oil. In this competition, the DOP Norte Alentejano Olive Oil was recognised with the gold medal, and in the Galega Olive Oil category, the Galega Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Herdade do Esporão also won the gold medal.