Istrian olive growers are among the world's 500 best olive growers, with a share of 12% in the global community of extra virgin olive oil makers.
Local HTZ officials said that 1,800 olive oils from around the world were evaluated for this year's edition of the Flos Olei catalogue, and that as last year, Istria was again the most represented world region, with ten more olive oils than in 2015, when 50 olive oils from Istria were included in the catalogue.
Istria is followed by second-ranked Tuscany, with 59 olive oils included in the catalogue, and the Spanish region of Andalusia, which placed third with 49 oils. Istria outperformed both regions in 2015 and this year.
Of the maximum 100 points awarded for the quality of olive oil, the highest number was won by the Italian farm Pruneti from Greve in Chianti (Tuscany), with 98 points, while the olive oil made by the Ipsa family from Oprtalj and Olea B.B. from Rabac, Istria, won 97 points each.
Ninety-six points were scored by the family farm Matteo Belci from Vodnjan, Stancija Meneghetti from Bale, Tonin from Vodnjan and Enio Zubin from Umag, while 95 points went to Franco Basiaco of Buje, Chiavalon from Vodnjan and Giancarlo Zigante from Livade, all from Istria.
Ten Istrian olive oil makers won 95-100 points and their olive oils made it to the "really excellent olive oils" category, while 17 won 90-94 points and their oils were categorised as "excellent olive oils".
This was the seventh edition of Flos Olei, an Italian-English guide for top world extra virgin olive oils. It is published and edited by agronomist Marco Orregia, a gastro-journalist, professional taster of olive oils and one of the most influential opinion makers on extra virgin olive oils, and Laura Marinelli, a journalist and olive oil taster.