In a year of floods, storms and everything in between, Australian agribusiness has had to contend with it all. South Australian Rio Vista Olives understands all too well the destruction of natural forces when part of their Adelaide Hills Olive grove was devastated by Fires back at the end of 2019.
In its first harvest since the Adelaide Hills Bushfires, the fire ravaged Manzanillo Olives have risen like the phoenix and come out to win Best Single Variety Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Royal Adelaide Olive Awards.
“We worked hard to salvage what we could from the fire affected trees at the time, but we could never have dreamt that the Manzanillo’s first harvest since the fire would achieve such success”, says Jared Bettio, Director of award-winning Rio Vista Olives.
“It’s a fantastic reminder that in the hard times of agriculture, things can always turn around for the better and come back stronger. The Manzanillo Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a complex, full-bodied, flavoursome oil that we feel expresses the journey it has been on through the last few years.” Jared continues.
At a time when South Australian food producers need all the support they can get, the gong for Best Flavoured Oil and Best Single Variety is a testament to provenance and agriculture for all South Australia.
“To have our Chilli Pressed Olive Oil consistently take out Gold Medals across multiple Olive Awards, Best Flavoured Oil, as well as Reserve Champion, highlights the consistent quality of South Australian produce.” also explains Jared.
“South Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil is again leading the way and highlighting the importance of terroir, provenance and quality. SA Oil is firmly placed on the map with leading the way in delicious, high-level oils.”
The pool of awards recently won by Rio Vista include 15 Gold medals, 31 Silver as well as Best Flavoured Oil, Best Single Variety and Reserve Champion Flavoured Oil:
Golden Olive Awards:
- Best Flavoured Oil: Rio Vista Olives Chilli Pressed Olive Oil
- Gold Medals for: Rio Vista Olives Signore, Rio Vista Olives Chilli Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Lemon Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Turmeric Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Ginger Pressed Olive Oil
- Silver Medals for: Rio Vista Olives Nevadillo (single variety), Rio Vista Olives Koroneiki (single Variety), Rio Vista Olives Nevadillo (single variety), Rio Vista Olives Garlic Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Merchant Spiced Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Il Misto Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Elisi Grove Kalamata, Rio Vista Olives Mount Torrens Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Royal Adelaide Olive Awards:
- Best Single Variety: Rio Vista Olives Manzanillo
- Gold medals for: Rio Vista Olives Chilli Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Garlic Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Turmeric Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Merchant Spiced Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Lemon Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Il Misto, Rio Vista Olives Koroneiki (single Variety), Rio Vista Olives Manzanillo (single Variety)
- Silver Medals for: Rio Vista Olives Signore, Rio Vista Olives Hardy’s Mammoth, Rio Vista Olives Gigi, Rio Vista Olives Lemon Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Augusto, Rio Vista Olives Nevadillo (single variety), Rio Vista Olives Signore (single Variety), Elisi Grove Kalamata, Rio Vista Olives Mandarin Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Orange Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Ginger Pressed Olive Oil
Australian International Olive Awards:
- Reserve Champion Flavoured Oil: Rio Vista Olives Chilli Pressed Olive Oil
- Gold Medals for: Rio Vista Olives Manzanillo (Single Variety), Rio Vista Olives Chilli Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Lemon Pressed Olive Oil
- Silver Awards for: Rio Vista Olives Gigi, Rio Vista Olives Signore (Single Variety), Rio Vista Olives Hardy’s Mammoth (single variety), Rio Vista Olives Mandarin Pressed Olive Oil
Sydney Fine Food Awards
- Gold Medals: Rio Vista Olives Merchant Spiced Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Chilli Pressed Olive Oil
- Silver Medals: Rio Vista Olives Lemon Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Turmeric Pressed Olive Oil, Rio Vista Olives Garlic Pressed Olive Oil, Elisi Grove Kalamata, Rio Vista Olives Gigi, Rio Vista Olives Il Misto, Rio Vista Olives Augusto, Rio Vista Olives Koroneiki (Single Variety)
World renowned chef Mark Best says of Rio Vista Olives “I love Rio Vista Olive Oil, not only because of the quality of their terroir and their groves but also the technology that they’re bringing. I always love that new technology being brought to ancient traditions. I think that amalgam is really where the magic lies.”
Mr Bettio says: “Being the most awarded Olive Oil producer for the last three years is an honour and a testament to our drive to continually push the benchmark of Australian made Olive Oils. It’s great for us, but just as importantly, it’s great for South Australia.”