CALISTOGA, Calif., May 28, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Napa Valley Olive Oil Competition, produced by Celebrate! Napa Valley, marked it's 9th year this May, bringing with it new producers and heightened consumer attention in the space. This year, Best of Show awards went to Fandango Olive Oil "Elegante" Organic Arbequina in the Robust category, and Grgich Hills Estate Organic Extra Virgin olive oil took the Best in Show in the Medium category. The Flavored Best of Show award went to Dry Creek Olive Company for its co-milled Persian Lime flavored olive oil.

The competition brings an engaging dynamic to the farming community in the Napa Valley to prove the region has more to offer beyond the wine it is most known for. Napa Valley wine producers like iconic Grgich Hills Estate take advantage of their intimate knowledge of farming Napa Valley land by adding olive oil production to their repertoire.

The Napa Valley Olive Oil Competition is more than just prestige for brands. It provides a platform to welcome and educate every-day consumers about the importance of quality olive oil and its many uses in their lives.

The competition is divided to separate micro-producers (less than 100 gallons in total production) from larger producers, as well as separate co-milled from infused flavored oils. Each class provides an opportunity for objectivity from judges, and a chance for producers to make their mark. The winning olive oils were showcased in Calistoga during the County Fair & Fiesta held May 3-5, 2019 at the Napa County Fairgrounds.

Like all agricultural ventures, the olive oil industry is at the mercy of nature year over year. The 2018 vintage brought its own set of challenges. "Our fellow California growers experienced an unusual heat spike during flowering and fruit set," explained Carolyn Shaffer, proprietor of Fandango Olive Oil. "We mitigated Mother Nature's whims by moving up our deficit watering program. Our total focus was on quality not quantity and we are so pleased with the results."

"2018 was a tough year for olive oil in California, but despite the challenges some of our producers made truly exceptional oils," says Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne, who serves as Head Judge of the competition. "We had many beautifully crafted oils that are sure to delight discerning consumers."

As the competition works to spread more public awareness and connoisseurship of olive oil, consumers are picking up on trends in the space. "One wonderful trend I see is the public's increased awareness in the benefits (both health and taste) of purchasing and using high-quality, California produced olive oil," says Mary Louise Bucher, Master Miller of Dry Creek Olive Oil Company. "While the American palette seems to still be working its way up toward the more pungent and bold oils, there is an overall appreciation for the diversity of flavors produced throughout the state."

The luxury foods space continues to grow as American consumers demand higher quality foods. This growing focus on health and wellness has opened up an opportunity for premium producers to share the fruits of their labor and educate a curious audience on a growing market segment: high-quality olive oil.

What should we be looking at for the future of olive oil? It goes far beyond salad dressing. "The number one question we personally have been asked lately concerns polyphenols, the antioxidant component of olive oil," says Carolyn Shaffer of Fandango. "Polyphenols appear to be the new buzz word for those consumers committed to a wellness lifestyle. Thus, we believe the trend you will see is more and more growers focusing on the health-related education of the public."

For more information on the Napa Valley Olive Oil Competition and this year's winners, visit https://www.celebratenapavalley.org/p/events/napa-valley-olive-oil-competition.

SOURCE Napa Valley Olive Oil Competition