After an extensive judging of quality California-produced olive oils, The Big Fresno Fair has selected the winners of the Seventh Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition (SJVOOC). This competition, open to all olive oil producers in California with products made from their 2021 olive harvest, received a total of 69 entries from 25 olive oil producers from throughout the State.
Entries were received in two categories, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and Flavored Olive Oil, with 10 classes in total. Gold and Silver Medals were awarded, as well as an overall “Best of Show” and “Best of the Valley” selected from all of the highest scoring gold medal entries in both categories. In total there were 50 EVOO and 19 Flavored Olive Oil entries that were entered for judging.
Following is a list of winners of the Seventh Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition.
Best of Show
Tres Osos Taggiasca (Carmel Valley) - EVOO
Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Habanero (Lodi) – Flavored Olive Oil
Best of the Valley
Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Habanero (Lodi)
Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Gold Medal Winners
Spanish Blends: Fresno State Miller’s Blend (Fresno), Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Estate Blend (San Miguel), Olivaia’s OLA Block X Blend (Lindsay), Cobram Estate Classic (Woodland)
Spanish Singles: Olivaia’s OLA Estate Sevillano (Lindsay), Mountain Springs Olive Ranch Arbequina (Paso Robles), The Olive Press Picual (Sonoma), Organic Roots Arbosana (Maxwell), Rio Bravo Ranch Picual (Bakersfield), Coppetti Olive Oil Manzanilla (Oakdale)
Italian Blends: Winter Creek Ruscello D’Inverno (Valley Springs), Tres Osos Robust (Carmel Valley), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Paradiso (San Miguel), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Magnifico (San Miguel), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Fantastico (San Miguel), Toothacre Ranch Old World Style EVOO (Ramona), Colomba Bianca (Clements)
Italian Singles: Tres Osos Taggiasca (Carmel Valley), Winter Creek Frantoio (Valley Springs), Coldani Olive Ranch Lodi Olive Oil Frantoio EVOO (Lodi), Cobram Estate Robust (Woodland)
Other Blends: Cobram Estate Select (Woodland), Olivaia’s OLA Block X Heirloom (Lindsay), Rio Bravo Ranch Miller’s Reserve Blend (Bakersfield), Mangini Ranch Calaveras Reserve (Wallace)
Silver Medal Winners
Spanish Blends: California Olive Ranch Miller’s Blend (Chico), Corto Olive Co. Truly (Stockton)
Spanish Singles: Organic Roots Olive Oil Organic Arbequina (Maxwell), California Olive Ranch Arbequina (Chico), ENZO Olive Oil Company Bold (Clovis), ENZO Olive Oil Company Medium (Clovis), Cobram Estate Mild (Woodland), Olive Crush Farms Arbequina (Valley Springs), Mangini Ranch Mission (Wallace)
Italian Blends: Partridge Family Olive Co. North Points (Paso Robles), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Eleganza Elite (San Miguel), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Tuscaneiki (San Miguel)
Italian Singles: Rio Bravo Ranch Coratina (Bakersfield)
Other Blends: OH Olive Oil (Bakersfield)
Other Singles: Rosenthal Olive Ranch Koroneiki (Madera), Organic Roots Koroneiki (Maxwell), ENZO Olive Oil Company Delicate (Clovis)
Flavored Olive Oils
Gold Medal Winners
Citrus: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Lavish Lime (Lodi), ENZO Olive Oil Company Organic Clementine Crush (Clovis)
Herbal: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Bountiful Basil (Lodi), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Rustic Rosemary (Lodi), Sciabica’s California Olive Oil Basil (Modesto)
Pepper: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Habanero (Lodi), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno (Lodi), The Olive Press Jalapeno (Sonoma), Sciabica’s California Olive Oil Jalapeno (Modesto)
Silver Medal Winners
Citrus: Coldani Olive Ranch’s Calivirgin Lusty Lemon (Lodi), Sciabica’s California Olive Oil Lemon (Modesto), ENZO Olive Oil Company Organic Lemon Crush (Clovis)
Herbal: ENZO Olive Oil Company Organic Basil Crush (Clovis)
Pepper: ENZO Olive Oil Company Organic Fresno Chili Crush (Clovis), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Jalapeno Garlic (Lodi)
Other: Coldani Olive Ranch Guilty Garlic (Lodi), Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Smoked (San Miguel)
“We could not be more pleased with the number of entries submitted by these amazing California olive oil producers – making this year’s entries tied for the most entries received since 2017,” said Stacy Rianda, Deputy Manager II at The Big Fresno Fair. “This year the competition saw new submissions by students at Fresno State and then our first San Diego County entry, Toothacre Ranch – with both producers winning Gold. It’s a rewarding feeling to be able to showcase these new and returning California-produced olive oils through this competition highlighting the incredible olive oil made right here in the State of California.”
Gold Medal and Best of Show winners will have the opportunity to have a booth in the Agriculture Building on one day during a weekend at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair or have a booth at the Fair’s Beer and Wine Festival on Saturday, Oct. 8. At either location, they will have the opportunity to display and sell their award-winning product. Additionally, educational information will be set up so that Fairgoers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits, recipes and more.
Gold Medals were awarded to an olive oil that demonstrated its type and/or varietal character, balance, structure and complexities to the highest standards. Gold Medals were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 86 - 100 points.
Silver Medals were awarded to an olive oil reflecting the correct distribution of balance and character of its type or variety; an oil deemed to be well crafted and of excellent quality. Silver Medals were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 76 - 85 points.
Best of Show: Awarded to an olive oil recognized to possess special characteristics of the highest quality overall. Best of the Valley: Awarded to the oil that scored the highest with the ranch or office located in the San Joaquin Valley. Medals were awarded for both EVOO and flavored oils. (Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties eligible)
The Big Fresno Fair, founded in 1884, is the fourth largest fair in the state of California and represents the 21st District Agricultural Association. More than 600,000 people from throughout the State visit The Big Fresno Fair each year making it the largest annual event in the Central Valley. The 2022 Big Fresno Fair will run Oct. 5-16.
