Share
A Celebration of Excellence on the 25th Anniversary of the Competition
On Thursday, 22 May, the International Olive Council (IOC) hosted the 2025 Mario Solinas Quality Award ceremony for the Northern Hemisphere at its headquarters in Madrid, marking the 25th anniversary of this prestigious international competition.
The event, hosted by journalist and presenter Verónica Zumalacárregui, brought together producers, members of the diplomatic corps, sector experts, chefs and media representatives to honour the extra virgin olive oils that best embody harmony, complexity and persistence.
The ceremony opened with welcoming remarks and a musical performance by Blanca Paloma, an artist who blends tradition and modernity. IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo formally inaugurated the event, highlighting the history of the competition and its central role in promoting quality and authenticity in olive oil.
Mercedes Fernández Albaladejo, Head of the IOC’s Standardisation and Research Unit, introduced the competition categories and paid tribute to the work of the international jury, who were presented with diplomas in recognition of their contribution.
Awards were given in six categories: robust green fruitiness, medium green fruitiness, delicate green fruitiness, ripe fruitiness, small producers and packers. Each category included gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as diplomas for the top three finalists.
The diversity of the winning oils reflected the geographical richness of the competition, with recipients from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia and Tunisia. Producers large and small shared the stage and the honour of being recognised for their excellence.
The ceremony concluded with a closing speech by the IOC Executive Director and an invitation to a cocktail reception featuring a tasting of the award-winning oils — the perfect end to a memorable day for the sector.
To view the full list of winners and finalists and other resources related to the competition, visit the IOC’s website.
