ATHENAIOOC 2022
Sitia, Crete
The 7 th edition of the Athena International Olive Oil Competition (ATHENA IOOC) was held from April 7 to 9, 2022 in Sitia, Crete. This is a region where the cultivation of the olive tree has flourished since the Minoan times and is still today the most widely planted agricultural crop. The broader Lasithi region boasts of hundreds of centuries-old olive trees and scores of EVOO mills. Crete itself is of course world-famous for its olive oils and for being the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet.
The highlights of the 2022 edition:
- A consolidation of the international aspect of ATHENA, with participations from all
over the world, making Greece an important stop on the world’s EVOO evaluation
circuit.
- The continuous quality improvement of Greek olive oils.
- The ongoing expansion of the Koroneiki variety, with many more entries coming from all around the world.
For the first time the number of experts judging at ATHENA increased from 25 to 30, albeit maintaining the same ratio between those from Greece (10 in 2022) and from abroad (20). In other words, 2/3 of the judging panel continues to be international, this year from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and the USA.
The 563 participating EVOOs came from 23 countries, together with Greece, from both Southern and Northern hemispheres and from all continents: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and USA. Chaired by distinguished judge and olive oil consultant José María Penco from Spain, the jury awarded 366 medals: 32 Double Golds, 135 Golds, 126 Silvers and 73 Bronzes. Best olive oil of the competition was Coratina Maselli of Azienda Agricola Maselli, from the variety of the same name (Coratina), originating from Bari in Italy’s Puglia. Best Greek olive oil was Terra Creta Kolymvari by Terra Creta; the same EVOO obtained the special prize of best Koroneiki worldwide and the best Cretan olive oil. Finally, it is to be noted that flavored olive oils are improving in quality every year and are obtaining numerous gold and double gold medals.
The highlights of the 2022 edition:
- A consolidation of the international aspect of ATHENA, with participations from all
over the world, making Greece an important stop on the world’s EVOO evaluation
circuit.
- The continuous quality improvement of Greek olive oils.
- The ongoing expansion of the Koroneiki variety, with many more entries coming from all around the world.
For the first time the number of experts judging at ATHENA increased from 25 to 30, albeit maintaining the same ratio between those from Greece (10 in 2022) and from abroad (20). In other words, 2/3 of the judging panel continues to be international, this year from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and the USA.
The 563 participating EVOOs came from 23 countries, together with Greece, from both Southern and Northern hemispheres and from all continents: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and USA. Chaired by distinguished judge and olive oil consultant José María Penco from Spain, the jury awarded 366 medals: 32 Double Golds, 135 Golds, 126 Silvers and 73 Bronzes. Best olive oil of the competition was Coratina Maselli of Azienda Agricola Maselli, from the variety of the same name (Coratina), originating from Bari in Italy’s Puglia. Best Greek olive oil was Terra Creta Kolymvari by Terra Creta; the same EVOO obtained the special prize of best Koroneiki worldwide and the best Cretan olive oil. Finally, it is to be noted that flavored olive oils are improving in quality every year and are obtaining numerous gold and double gold medals.
