The annual SA Olive Awards, a highlight on the calendar of South Africa’s olive oil producers, will take place on the 15th of September 2026 to celebrate a local industry that continues to produce world-class EVOOs – capable of competing with the very best internationally.
This year, the judging panel welcomes two internationally acclaimed olive oil experts, Marcelo Scofano from Brazil and Dr Müge Nebioğlu from Türkiye, who will lead SA Olive’s local judging panel. Their participation reflects the growing international reputation of South Africa’s olive oil industry and reinforces the competition’s commitment to judging, according to internationally recognised sensory standards.
In the run-up to the awards, the SA Awards judges, led by Marcelo Scofano and Dr Muge Nibioglu, will spend the judging week conducting rigorous blind sensory assessments of this year’s EVOO entries to identify South Africa’s finest oils. A session will also be held with the local judges and the international visitor judges on the 15th of August, ensuring that calibration and synergies are concluded before the judging occurs. The winners will then be announced at the SA Olive Awards ceremony, when the gold, silver and bronze medals will be presented to the country’s best Extra Virgin Olive Oils.
Beyond the judging process, the international judges will visit selected producers during their time in South Africa, offering expert insights and fostering knowledge exchange with the local olive oil community.
Marcelo Scofano – International Judge
Marcelo Scofano is one of South America’s leading authorities on Extra Virgin Olive Oil, with more than 15 years of experience as a sensory analyst, lecturer, consultant and researcher. A professional olive oil taster and Master in Elaiotechnique, trained in Andalusia, Spain, he has lectured extensively on olive oil and gastronomy, consulted to leading food businesses, and is a partner at Estilo Gourmet, a company specialising in culinary consultancy, training and events. He is also the author of Olive Oil, Ancestry and New Food and has contributed to numerous olive oil research projects and publications in Brazil.
Scofano has served as a judge at many of the world’s most prestigious international olive oil competitions across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Israel, Japan, Morocco, Tunisia, Argentina, Peru and Chile. He currently serves as Panel Leader of the Olio Nuovo Days South Hemisphere Competition in Paris and is widely respected for his expertise in sensory evaluation and his contribution to advancing excellence in Extra Virgin Olive Oil worldwide.
Dr Müge Nebioğlu – International Judge
Dr Müge Nebioğlu is a highly respected Food Engineer and olive oil specialist from Türkiye, holding a PhD in Oils and Fats Technology. She is a Master Researcher at the Central Research Institute of Food and Feed Control, where she leads research into edible oils and fats, oversees laboratory operations and organoleptic evaluation, and directs national and international research projects. An accredited olive oil tasting expert and trainer, she has made a significant contribution to advancing quality standards through research, education and consultancy, working with government, industry, Michelin-starred chefs and premium producers.
Dr Nebioğlu has served as a judge at many of the world’s leading Extra Virgin Olive Oil competitions, including events in Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Morocco, South Africa, the Netherlands and Türkiye. She is also an accomplished trainer of olive oil tasters and a trusted consultant to the international olive oil sector, making her one of the foremost authorities in olive oil quality assessment and sensory evaluation.
Wendy Petersen, CEO of SA Olive, says: “Every year, the SA Olive Awards showcase the exceptional quality and dedication of South Africa’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil producers. The calibre of this year’s international judging panel reflects the growing global recognition of our industry, while providing valuable benchmarking for our producers. The awards also support SA Olive’s Commitment to Compliance (CTC) Scheme, which promotes authentic, 100% South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil through rigorous quality standards and transparent labelling, giving consumers confidence in every bottle. We look forward to celebrating our producers’ achievements, with this year’s Gold-winning oils progressing to the final judging for the prestigious Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards.”
The SA Olive Awards remain the country’s premier celebration of EVOOs, showcasing producers whose commitment to quality has earned South African EVOOs a reputation for excellence both locally and internationally.
Following the SA Olive Awards, all Gold-winning EVOOs will advance to the final round of judging for the prestigious Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards, when South Africa’s ten finest Extra Virgin Olive Oils will be selected.
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