A MALVERN family have won a top international award for the olive oil they make on their Italian estate.
Jerry and Irené Avis, who live in Great Malvern, picked up a Silver award in the Quality category of the prestigious London International Olive Oil Competitions for their Sant’ Elia Single Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
The couple and their daughter Chloe and son in-law Braz have been making exceptional Sant’ Elia Extra Virgin Olive Oil on their estate in Filottrano, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, for more than 15 years.
Every autumn, the family are joined on the estate by relatives and friends to harvest by hand, every one of their 600-plus Frantoio, Leccino and Pendelino olive trees.
The olives are then taken to the village press and pressed using only mechanical means – no chemicals or heat are used.
They farm their 24-acre estate on organic principles, and it is this deep care for the land which Jerry says produces olive oil of such exacting quality. Each year produces an oil with different characteristics, and the near-perfect growing conditions meant the 2024 ‘vintage’ is exceptional.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have been recognised by a global body as prestigious as the London International Olive Oil Competitions,” Jerry said.
“We fell in love with Sant’ Elia more than 20 years ago and have spent two decades restoring the house and the land, planting olive trees and vines and watching it come back to life.”
“We were joined by our daughter, Chloe and her husband Braz, who bought the adjacent property and land some 10 years ago cementing the legacy of Sant’ Elia olive oil.”
“We’ve always known there’s something very special about this little corner of Italy, and our olive oil, and now it’s official.”
Judged by a panel of 25 professional olive oil sommeliers from Europe and the Americas, their olive oil was blind tasted and impressed with its balance, smooth taste and fresh fruitiness in the nose.
The competitions attracted 700 entries from all around the world in four categories – Quality, Packaging, Health and Infused Oils, which were announced at the Hyatt Regency in London.
In demand from chefs and restaurateurs, Sant’ Elia Single Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, together with our Balsamics, made by a friend in Modena, are sold online and at delis across the country.
Worcestershire stockists include Holloways in Suckley.