Brief
De Rustica wins International Olive Council’s top Southern‑Hemisphere award
The award highlights South Africa’s growing reputation in premium extra‑virgin olive oil.
By Felo News Desk · Published
South African producer De Rustica has become the first estate from the country to claim the International Olive Council’s (IOC) Mario Solinas Quality Award for the Southern Hemisphere, winning first place for its Coratina extra‑virgin olive oil (EVOO) in the 2026 competition, bizcommunity.com reported on 6 October.
The Coratina cultivar had previously taken second place in the 2025 IOC awards and was ranked the world’s highest‑rated EVOO by EVOOLEUM in 2023. In the 2025 EVOOLEUM Southern Hemisphere ranking the oil scored 97 points and placed second, before returning to the top spot in the 2026 ranking. De Rustica’s Favolosa variety also earned the top honour at the 2026 NOVA Awards at Mercacei, and five of the estate’s oils won gold at the 2026 South African Olive Awards.
CEO Eleanor Stoker said the result challenges modest expectations from a smaller industry and demonstrates that South African producers have the climate, skill and ambition to create “truly exceptional olive oil”. She added that the achievement is less about celebrating a single win and more about what it signals for the broader sector.
Wendy Petersen, chief executive of the South African Olive Industry Association, linked the success to the SA Olive Commitment to Compliance (CTC) Scheme, which sets strict sensory and analytical standards. She said international awards are boosting the reputation of South African EVOO and building consumer confidence both locally and abroad.
The award arrives as South Africa has formally applied for IOC membership, a move announced in September that aims to give the country a stronger voice in global olive‑oil governance.
Key facts
- De Rustica won the IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award for the Southern Hemisphere in 2026. (bizcommunity.com)
- The winning oil is the estate’s Coratina extra‑virgin olive oil. (bizcommunity.com)
- Eleanor Stoker is the CEO of De Rustica. (bizcommunity.com)
- Wendy Petersen is CEO of the South African Olive Industry Association. (bizcommunity.com)
- South Africa submitted a request for IOC membership in September 2026. (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “De Rustica wins IOC top prize for South African EVOO”
