Reported by Natale Lofaro
Sixteen oils were tasted and featured the best from Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece and some excellent oils from California, Australia, Chile, South Africa, and New Zealand. The extra virgin olive oils ranged from:
- varietal to coupage (olive world’s word for blend/cuvee)
- very early harvest (beginning October) to very late harvest (April)
- from the most traditional processing methods to the most moder
- from estates with less than 35 acres to more than 2000 acres of olives
- from low density plantings to super high density plantings
- from $9.99 to $39.99 a bottle
- from <0.1 oleic acidity to 1.0%
Oils were tasted in flights of 4 oils. The winners (according to the participants) of each flight were:
- Flight 1 – Oleo Cazorla form Andalucia, Spain
- Flight 2 – L’estornell Organic from Catalonia, Spain
- Flight 3 – Delheim from Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Flight 4 – Nunez da Prado – Flor de Aceite from Andalucia, Spain
Interestingly, Nunez da Prado was also a winner in our first tasting held in February.
Olive Oils tasted:
- (Country, Producer, DOP/AOC/DO/PDO, Region, Cultivar(s), Price)
- Australia, Cobram Estate – Early Harvest, Murray River, Victoria, mixed, $13.99
- France, Nyonsolive, Nyons AOC, Provence, Tanche, $29.99
- Spain, Oleo Cazorla, Sierra de Cazorla DO, Jaen – Andalusia, Picaul, $14.99
- Greece, Kamaria, Kalamata DOP, Messenia – Peloponese, Koroneiki, $16.99
- Lebanon, Al Dayaa, Al Koura, Souri, $9.99
- Italy, Fragranza Novella, Sicily (Palermo/Trapani/Agrigento), Nocellara, Cerasuola, Biancollilla, $18.99
- USA, Tutta, Santa Ynez/Sierra Foothills, California, Leccino, Arbosana, $18.99
- Spain, L'Estornell organic, El Segria/Les Garrigues DO, Lerida Catalonia, Arbequina, $16.99
- Portugal, Gallo Azeite Novo, , $11.95
- Chile, Terramater – Carta de Peteroa, Curico, Maule, Liguria, Empeltre, $13.99
- Greece, Sitia – 0.3, Sitia Lasithi DOP, Crete, Koroneiki, $16.99
- South Africa, Delheim, Stellenbosch, Leccino, Frantoio, Mission, $19.99
- 12
- New Zealand, Serendipity, organic, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, Barnea, $39.99
- Italy, Frantoio Foiano, Toscano IGP, Tuscany, Frantoio, Moraiolo, Leccino, $24.99
- Palestine, Zeitouna, Nabali, $15.99
- Spain, Nunez de Prado organic, Baena DO, Cordoba – Andalusia, Picudo, Hojiblanca, Picaul, $23.99
Olive/cheese/wine tasting Tanche, Olives Noires de Nyons AOC, $10.99/300g
Kalamata , Kalamata, Greece, $7.99/1 litre
Manzanilla, Spain, $5.98/500 ml
Sicilian, Molisana, $3.49/500 ml
- Cheese, Grana Padano DOP, 19.99/KG
- Wine, Pinot Noir Cava, $16.95
Nicoise/Pesto, Riviera dei Fiori, $6.99/212 ml
Calabrese, Valledorata olive schiaccate, $11.99/550g
Calabrese, Calabria, $6.99/580 ml
Eggplant, Melanzane in extravirgin olive oil , $6.99
- Cheese, Delizia di Sardegna – Sheep, 19.99/kg
- Wine, Fiano di Avellino, $21.95
Arbequina, Catalonia, Spain, $6.49
Green/Almonds, Pilaros, $11.99/1000ml
France, Manzanilla/Basque Brebis Cheese, $3.99/300 g
France, Manzanilla/Piment D’Espelette, $3.99/300 g
Pepperoncini, Valledorata Peroncini Piccanti , $7.99
- Cheese, Aged Asiago DOP, 31.99/kg
- Wine, Mantinia – Moschofilero, $16.95
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The National Capital Sommelier Guild strongly supports moderate and responsible consumption of wine and spirits. Guild dinner events allow a designated driver to attend at a reduced price. The designated driver will not be served alcohol. Guild tasting events provide and encourage the use of spit buckets.