Best Catalan AOVES Awards Announced

The Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda has launched the Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils of Catalonia Awards. This initiative aims to recognise the quality and diversity of the oils produced in the region, as well as to promote their consumption and marketing.

The prizes will be awarded in eight different categories, evaluating aspects such as sensory profile, olive variety, organic production and packaging design.

The prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Oils from large and small producers: Sensory profile will be assessed (intense, medium, light and ripe fruity, with a high level of acidity).
• Oils from organic production
• Single-variety oils
• Oils from indigenous varieties
• Best pairing
• Best packaging
• Ten best oils

All companies producing, bottling and marketing extra virgin olive oil based in Catalonia are eligible to participate. The oils submitted must comply with European regulations and be duly labelled.

The oils submitted for the awards will be evaluated by juries set up for this purpose. There will be a jury for the tasting categories, made up of tasters from the Official Olive Oil Tasting Panel of Catalonia and internationally renowned tasters from Greece, Italy and Andalusia.

Another jury will be responsible for the best packaging awards and will be made up of a representative of the Directorate General for Agri-food, Quality and Gastronomy, a representative of the Barcelona Design Centre and a representative of the Packaging Cluster Association. Finally, the jury for the awards for best pairing, culinary combination and gastronomic versatility will be made up of a representative of the Directorate General for Agri-food Companies, Quality and Gastronomy, a representative of the Alícia Foundation and a representative of the catering sector.

The winners in each of the categories will receive an award and a diploma, which will be presented to them as part of the Noche del OOVE Català gala.

With these awards, the Government of Catalonia seeks to position Catalan extra virgin olive oils as high-quality products and to promote their consumption both nationally and internationally. It also aims to make the work of producers visible and promote olive oil culture.