ATHENAIOOC 2021
Lesbos Island
The evaluation procedures of the 6 th "Athena International Olive Oil Competition" 2021 (ATHENA IOOC) took place in Lesbos island, June 3 to 5, with the participation of 575 olive oil samples from 23 countries (instead of 17 in 2020).
The jury committee awarded a total of 369 medals: 86 bronze, 101 silver, 144 gold and 38 double gold, the highest distinction (95/100 and above). The best olive oil of the competition was the Italian Il Cavallino Special Edition, produced by Azienda Agricola Il Cavallino di Salvadori company from Livorno, Tuscany, and the Leccio del Corno olive variety. The best Greek olive oil was A.M.G. Karabelas’ Laurel & Flame from Ancient Olympia and the Tsambidoelia olive variety.
The number of entries in ATHENA 2021, although keep on increasing since the second year of the competition, showed a more than 25.5% leap compared to the 2020 event.
The Greek and foreign participations were almost in absolute balance, demonstrating the solid trust of Greek olive producers in the competition, but also the ever- ncreasing choice of ATHENA IOOC from their colleagues around the world, this year from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, Croatia, France, Japan, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay and the USA. The samples from abroad were 50% more than those of 2020.
As every year, the judges of the competition from outside Greece made up 2/3 of the jury committee and came from Argentina, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, Italy, Spain, Turkey and USA. The rest of them, i.e. about 1/3 out of a total of 25 that make up the jury committee, are of course from Greece.
Every year ATHENA IOOC is held in a different olive producing region of Greece with the aim of promoting this area. After Athens, Pylos, Delphi, Nafplion and Spata, the 6 th event took place in Lesbos island, one of the most emblematic olive-producing regions of Greece. The Museum of Industrial Olive Production in the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi was really the ideal venue for this competition. The judges tasted in the museum's main oil-making exhibition hall, which is housed in buildings where a real oil mill operated for years. It was the first time in the world that a building where tons of olive oil have been produced hosted a competition for this product, something that was commented by the judges as a unique and unforgettable experience.
The jury committee awarded a total of 369 medals: 86 bronze, 101 silver, 144 gold and 38 double gold, the highest distinction (95/100 and above). The best olive oil of the competition was the Italian Il Cavallino Special Edition, produced by Azienda Agricola Il Cavallino di Salvadori company from Livorno, Tuscany, and the Leccio del Corno olive variety. The best Greek olive oil was A.M.G. Karabelas’ Laurel & Flame from Ancient Olympia and the Tsambidoelia olive variety.
The number of entries in ATHENA 2021, although keep on increasing since the second year of the competition, showed a more than 25.5% leap compared to the 2020 event.
The Greek and foreign participations were almost in absolute balance, demonstrating the solid trust of Greek olive producers in the competition, but also the ever- ncreasing choice of ATHENA IOOC from their colleagues around the world, this year from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, Croatia, France, Japan, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay and the USA. The samples from abroad were 50% more than those of 2020.
As every year, the judges of the competition from outside Greece made up 2/3 of the jury committee and came from Argentina, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, Italy, Spain, Turkey and USA. The rest of them, i.e. about 1/3 out of a total of 25 that make up the jury committee, are of course from Greece.
Every year ATHENA IOOC is held in a different olive producing region of Greece with the aim of promoting this area. After Athens, Pylos, Delphi, Nafplion and Spata, the 6 th event took place in Lesbos island, one of the most emblematic olive-producing regions of Greece. The Museum of Industrial Olive Production in the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi was really the ideal venue for this competition. The judges tasted in the museum's main oil-making exhibition hall, which is housed in buildings where a real oil mill operated for years. It was the first time in the world that a building where tons of olive oil have been produced hosted a competition for this product, something that was commented by the judges as a unique and unforgettable experience.
