Introduction
Every bottle of exceptional olive oil begins long before harvest.
It begins with the soil, the trees, the climate, and the countless decisions made throughout the growing season. By the time olives reach the mill, quality has already been shaped by months—and often generations—of careful stewardship.
For Ootopia, 2023 marked an important milestone. It was the year our commitment to producing exceptional Greek extra virgin olive oil was recognized on the international stage through two of the world’s most respected olive oil competitions.
Those honors did more than add medals to our bottles. They confirmed that a small estate in Ermioni, Greece, could stand alongside some of the finest olive oils in the world.
Excellence Begins in the Grove
Ootopia’s olive oils are produced in Ermioni, Greece, where generations of experience meet modern milling practices.
Working alongside our master miller, Kostas Liris, every harvest is approached with a single objective: preserve the character of the fruit from tree to bottle. Timing, temperature, extraction, filtration, and storage all play an important role in protecting the aromas, flavors, and naturally occurring polyphenols that define premium extra virgin olive oil.
Exceptional olive oil is never the result of one decision. It is the result of hundreds of careful decisions made throughout the year.
Best of Greece in Japan
One of Ootopia’s earliest international recognitions came at the Japan Olive Oil Prize (JOOP).
Japan has become one of the world’s most sophisticated olive oil markets, with consumers placing extraordinary value on authenticity, freshness, and sensory quality. Recognition at JOOP represents more than international visibility—it demonstrates that an olive oil has impressed experienced judges in one of the world’s most discerning tasting competitions.
Receiving Best of Greece reinforced that Ootopia’s commitment to quality resonated well beyond the Mediterranean.
Recognition in Italy
Later that same year, Ootopia was honored once again at the EVO International Olive Oil Contest (EVO IOOC) in Italy.
Italy has long been regarded as one of the historic centers of olive oil culture. To receive Best of Greece recognition in an Italian competition carried special significance.
Rather than comparing ourselves only within Greece, Ootopia was evaluated alongside producers from around the world, demonstrating that careful farming, early harvest practices, and meticulous milling can compete at the highest international level.
Why Independent Competitions Matter
Olive oil competitions are evaluated through blind tasting.
Judges do not know the producer, the country of origin, or the label on the bottle they are evaluating. Instead, they assess aroma, balance, complexity, freshness, and the absence of defects.
That process matters because it places every producer on equal footing. Recognition is earned through the quality of the olive oil itself.
For consumers, these awards provide confidence that independent experts have recognized the craftsmanship behind every bottle.
Building Momentum
The international recognition Ootopia received in 2023 became the beginning—not the destination.
Those early awards were followed by growing editorial recognition, including features by national publications, additional international awards, and opportunities to represent Greece at major food industry events.
Each milestone built upon the one before it, reinforcing a simple belief:
Extraordinary olive oil earns trust over time.
Looking Ahead
Every harvest offers a new opportunity to improve.
While awards are an important milestone, they are never the finish line. They serve as motivation to continue refining every step of the process—from grove management and milling to bottling and sharing Greek olive oil with families around the world.
The journey that began with international recognition in 2023 continues today, one harvest at a time.
