Willow Creek Receives Local and International Praise

olive oil awardsThe products of Willow Creek Olive Estate are receiving a thumbs-up from local and international olive oil connoisseurs alike with an impressive harvest of medals and awards. Willow Creek has been on the receiving end of no less than twenty awards this year alone. The latest in their trophy cabinet are four gold medals from Olivinus 2015, held in Mendoza, Argentina.

Deemed the second most important international contest by the independent World Ranking Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Olivinus 2015 received 304 entries from 11 olive oil producing countries.  The 24 judges, lead by one of the world’s foremost experts, Dr. Antonio Giuseppe Lauro, granted Gran Prestige Gold medals to both the Directors’ Reserve and the Estate Blend (both deserving of the required 86+ points from 100), a Prestige Gold for their Lemon Flavoured Olive Oil and a Gold for the Coriander Flavoured Olive Oil.

The strict judging panel graced only 123 of the 304 entries with medals, representing 40% of the olive oils, and Willow Creek is South Africa’s only producer to make this list.

In yet another international competition Willow Creek’s Directors’ Reserve received Special Mention from the Sol D’Oro Southern Hemisphere.  In order for olive oils produced in the same harvesting season to compete with each other on even grounds (without having to contend with oils with the advantage of being 6 months fresher due to being produced in the other half of the world) Sol D’Oro split their competition since 2014.  During this second annual event 45 entries from 4 Southern Hemisphere countries were judged in Cape Town.

Affirmation from local olive experts

During the 10th SA Olive Awards gala dinner Willow Creek’s premium Director’s Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil was honoured with Gold in the category for intense style oils – one of a mere 19 gold medals that were awarded by the judges of this authoritative competition. In addition, their Estate Blend, Nuy Valley and Food Lover’s Signature claimed Silver.

Our participation in local and international competitions is not about boosting our egos, it is all about benchmarking our olive oil against the best of the world to be able to truthfully present olive oil lovers with a consistently quality product. – Andries Rabie, MD of Willow Creek

“Our Directors’ Reserve really is our pride and joy – and the world seems to agree.” Since the start of 2015 this exceptional olive oil has garnered a Gran Prestige Gold from amongst 500 competing olive oils at the Terra Olivo Mediterranean International Olive Oil Competition, a Gran Menzione (Grand Mention) from the Italian L’Orciolo d’Oro, and a Gold medal at the New York International Olive Oil Competition. In addition the 2014 version secured a 95th place on the World Ranking Extra Virgin Olive Oils allowing them to use the ranking’s prestigious title of ‘Extra Virgin Olive Oil of the Year’ awarded to the Top 100 olive oils achieving a score of 160 or more on the international playing field.

Willow Creek olive oilsThe Directors’ Reserve is a robust olive oil with complex aromas of tomato vines and artichokes, followed by nuances of rocket, salad herbs and a lingering nuttiness. The careful fusion of the Coratina and Frantoio cultivars creates an extraordinary composition.

Willow Creek’s range of products are available at delis and retailers including Woolworths, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Food Lover’s Market, Spar, Makro, Game and Montague Dried Fruit & Nuts. They also have a tasting room and shop on the estate that are open to the public, as well as a nursery that sells olive trees.

Willow Creek