De Rustica has made South African olive oil history by being the first South African producer to take the Top Prize at the International Olive Council (IOC) Mario Solinas Quality Awards – Southern Hemisphere.
Organised by the International Olive Council, the Mario Solinas Quality Awards represent independent recognition at the highest level of the international olive oil industry. De Rustica’s First Prize offers a tangible expression of what South African olive oil can bring to that community in terms of quality.
The 2026 top prize was won by De Rustica’s Coratina and follows the estate’s second prize win with Coratina in the 2025 IOC competition. Coming second last year and first this year is extraordinary enough for a single estate, but the significance of this win is massive for the South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) industry.
South Africa is one of the smallest olive oil-producing countries in the southern hemisphere, competing on the international stage against large established industries in countries such as Argentina, Chile, Australia, Brazil and Uruguay. From that relatively small base, a South African oil taking First Prize at the IOC’s Southern Hemisphere competition is a meaningful marker of how far the local industry has come.
As Eleanor Stoker, CEO of De Rustica says: “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.”
Wendy Petersen, the CEO of the SA Olive Industry Association CEO is delighted by this news: “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.
“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.”.
From the olive groves outside De Rust in the Klein Karoo, De Rustica has, over the past decade, built an enviable record of recognition at some of the world’s most respected EVOO competitions. In 2023, De Rustica’s Coratina was ranked by EVOOLEUM as the world’s highest-rated EVOO. Two years later, in 2025, Coratina again scored 97 points and was placed second. In 2026, De Rustica Coratina sustained its Top 10 position in the EVOOLEUM Southern Hemisphere chart of best extra virgin olive oils by coming top overall.
De Rustica Favolosa also took the top award at the 2026 NOVA Awards at Mercacei for new clonal cultivars.
At home in South Africa, De Rustica won an astonishing five gold awards at the 2026 SA Olive Awards, for Coratina, Medium, Favolosa, Chemlali and Koroneiki.
Eleanor Stoker adds: “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.”