NYIOOC 2026: What a Silver Medal Really Means
We were once again awarded Silver at the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition 2026. This isn't news we're celebrating loudly. But it's news we want to put into perspective — because it shows what distinguishes independent quality control from one's own marketing.
What the NYIOOC is — and what it isn't
The NYIOOC is considered one of the most important international competitions for extra virgin olive oil. The awarded oils appear in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils, which is used as a reference by retailers, importers, and chefs worldwide. Crucially: the evaluation is done through blind tasting. No packaging, no story, no reach — just the oil.
Why we participate
Because good olive oil can claim many things today. Origin, craftsmanship, polyphenols, early harvest — all of that can be said. It only gets interesting when an oil also stands up outside of its own brand. For us, the NYIOOC is not a marketing tool. It is an external benchmark — and precisely for that reason, relevant.
What the award specifically means
A Silver Award at the NYIOOC 2026 means: Our oil passed an anonymous expert tasting. It shows that the decisions made before bottling are sound — harvest time, clean handling, direct processing, consistent quality management in our own groves in Messinia.
For customers: Sarmakinas is convincing not only in our own language. For trade and gastronomy: We are visible and classified in the official guide.
Quality should be verifiable. Not just tellable.
