Olive oil enthusiasts can now look out for a handful of exceptional and locally produced olive oils that were voted as 2013’s Absa Top 5. The olive oils were critiqued by an esteemed panel of qualified olive oil tasters.  Porterville Olives took two spots on this prestigious list along with De Rustica Olive, Gabrielskloof and Rio Largo Olive Estate.

All five of the winning olive oils are in the Intense style: De Rustica Private Press – Intense Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Gabrielskloof Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Porterville Olives’ Andante Intenso and Andante Forte Intensely Fruity, and the Rio Largo Premium Blend.

“Tasting and comparing twenty of such high quality olive oils is an extremely difficult task – but a pleasure nonetheless,” says Gerrie Duvenage. “These five olive oils simultaneously excite, challenge and satisfy the palate and deserve to be highlighted.”

Absa and SA Olive established this new competition as part of the annual SA Olive Awards where, this year, 100 olive oils competed for the honour of winning a gold medal.  The Absa Top 5 was accordingly selected from the SA Olive top 20 achievers. “The Top 5 selected olive oils can be seen as a unique selling point for the South African olive oil industry. We hold the achievement of these producers in high esteem. We congratulate the winners and finalists for their participation and dedication to produce the highest standard of quality oils”, says Brienne van der Walt, Managing Executive, Absa AgriBusiness.

Absa will be inviting top clients to taste these winners, as well as this year’s Top 10 Pinotage wines (also sponsored by Absa) during select tastings on 9 October at Coastlands in Umhlanga Rocks and at the Leriba Lodge in Centurion on the 31^st of October.

Visit www.saolive.co.za for more information on the Absa Top 5 and the SA Olive Awards or contact SA Olive at tel (021) 870 2900 or email info@saolive.co.za.

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