South African olive oil has reached a new international milestone, with De Rustica becoming the first South African producer to win the top prize at the International Olive Council's (IOC) Mario Solinas Quality Awards for the Southern Hemisphere.
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The estate's Coratina took first place in the 2026 competition, following a second-place finish with the same cultivar in 2025. The result adds to the growing international recognition of South African extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and comes as the country's olive industry seeks membership of the IOC.
For De Rustica CEO Eleanor Stoker, the achievement is also a challenge to perceptions about the scale of South Africa's olive industry. “I think sometimes, coming from a smaller industry, we can be a little too modest about where we believe we belong.
"Results like this challenge that thinking. South African producers have the climate, the skill and, importantly, the ambition to make truly exceptional olive oil. For me, this is less about celebrating one result and more about what it says is possible – for De Rustica and for our industry.”
From second place to first
De Rustica's Coratina has now moved from second place in the 2025 IOC competition to the top position in 2026, giving the estate back-to-back recognition at the awards.
The result adds to a wider record of performance across international and local competitions. In 2023, De Rustica's Coratina was ranked the world's highest-rated EVOO by EVOOLEUM. In 2025, the cultivar again scored 97 points and placed second, before returning to the top position in the 2026 EVOOLEUM Southern Hemisphere ranking.
De Rustica Favolosa also received the top award at the 2026 NOVA Awards at Mercacei for new clonal cultivars, while five of the estate's oils won gold at the 2026 SA Olive Awards.
South African quality gains ground
South Africa remains a relatively small olive oil-producing country in the Southern Hemisphere, competing internationally with established industries including Argentina, Chile, Australia, Brazil and Uruguay.
Against that backdrop, a South African producer taking the IOC's Southern Hemisphere top prize represents a significant quality benchmark for the local EVOO industry.
Wendy Petersen, CEO of the SA Olive Industry Association, said international awards are contributing to the growing recognition of South African EVOO. “The international awards being won by South African olive oil producers are making a significant contribution to the reputation and recognition of South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) on the global stage.
“The consistently high quality of South African EVOO can, in large part, be attributed to the SA Olive Commitment to Compliance (CTC) Scheme. The scheme provides an important quality and authenticity framework, ensuring that participating products meet rigorous standards for both sensory quality and analytical properties.
“Together, the dedication of our producers and the integrity of the CTC Scheme are helping to build consumer confidence and strengthen the reputation of South African EVOO both locally and internationally.”
IOC membership adds momentum
The award comes at a significant time for South Africa's olive industry. In September, the country formally submitted its request to become a member of the International Olive Council, signalling an ambition to play a more prominent role in the international olive oil sector.
Petersen said the timing of the IOC recognition was particularly relevant to that development.
“Every international award is not only an achievement for an individual producer—it is recognition of the quality, commitment and growing excellence of the entire South African olive industry.
“The timing is fitting. This month (September), the South African olive industry has formally submitted its request to become a member of the International Olive Council, and this signals the country’s ambition and its readiness to take a more prominent place in the international olive oil community. Winning global awards like these recognizes our achievements and helps cement our future growth, importance and fixture within the global olive industry.”
For South African producers, greater international recognition can support the industry's broader efforts to establish the country as a producer of premium EVOO rather than simply a small-volume player.
Consistency across cultivars
Stoker said the latest result reflects more than the performance of a single cultivar or harvest.
“Different cultivars, different competitions, different judging panels and different harvests seem to serve rather than hinder De Rustica’s winning abilities – because it’s all about the place, the environment, the people and our shared belief in creating an outstanding quality product. Awards are simply one of the ways that our efforts are measured beyond the farm. And perhaps that is what makes this latest result particularly meaningful.”
