Croatia’s Avistria Wins 3 Awards at NYIOOC World

An Istrian producer, Avistria, has won three awards at the 2020 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition.

We feel great and happy, as we see our focus on quality confirmed. These awards are not only important for the marketing, but also for all the people who work with us. They are motivation for all of us to do even better next year.

Rudolf Nemetschke, co-owner

The Croatian producer was awarded Gold for its Stari Buza brand, a medium Istria Buza, and a delicate Istria Buza. They also took home a Silver Award for their Istrian Blend, a delicate blend.

"We feel great and happy, as we see our focus on quality confirmed," co-owner Rudolf Nemetschke said. "These awards are not only important for the marketing, but also for all the people who work with us. They are motivation for all of us to do even better next year."

Avistria produces extra virgin olive oil in the northwestern peninsula of Istria from Istria Buza, Leccino and Istrian Bjelica olives using traditional methods.

While the compamy enjoyed a successful year in 2019, Nemetschke said not all Istrian producers were as lucky. He also foresees a challenging harvest in 2020.

"We had a good, high-quality harvest in 2019," he said. "Also the younger trees, planted in 2016, already bore some fruit. A long cold and rainy period of six weeks in April and May was problematic, however."

"Others in Istria faced a severe harvest declines in 2019," Nemetschke added. "We also had enough helping hands at the harvest, a topic, that will become increasingly important in 2020."

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, held each spring in New York, is the world's largest and most prestigious olive oil contest and its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.

The complete list of winners can be viewed on the Official Index of the World's Best Olive Oils