Oleoestepa has achieved a new top-tier international recognition. The Andalusian cooperative Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta, based in Corcoya (Seville) and part of Oleoestepa, has won First Prize in the Medium Green Fruity category at the Mario Solinas International Olive Oil Competition 2026, organized by the International Olive Council (IOC). The award recognizes an extra virgin olive oil produced from olives of the 2025/2026 harvest, in a competition that evaluated 123 oils from across the Northern Hemisphere.
What is the Mario Solinas Award of the International Olive Council
The IOC is the only intergovernmental organization in the world that brings together all stakeholders in the olive oil sector at a global level. Its quality competition evaluates oils in six categories according to their sensory profile: Intense Green Fruity, Medium Green Fruity, Light Green Fruity, Ripe Fruity, Small Producers and Bottlers.
The main producing countries of the Northern Hemisphere take part in this competition, including Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco and Portugal, among others.
For this reason, winning First Prize in any category places an olive oil among the best in the world for that harvest. The jury is composed of internationally accredited tasters in accordance with IOC standards.
A milestone in the year of our 40th anniversary
This recognition comes at a particularly meaningful time. In 2026, Oleoestepa celebrates its 40th anniversary since its foundation on April 26, 1986. Over four decades, the cooperative has become a global benchmark in extra virgin olive oil.
In this context, the Mario Solinas First Prize 2026 adds to a track record of national and international awards, including in the current campaign:
- Expoliva Award · Best Bottler — Oleoestepa Selección
- Best EVOO in Seville — Oleoestepa Hojiblanca · Provincial Council of Seville
- Best Organic EVOO in Seville — Oleoestepa Organic · Provincial Council of Seville
“Winning First Prize from the International Olive Council is the highest distinction an extra virgin olive oil can receive worldwide. It is the result of the work of thousands of olive-growing families who have contributed their groves and expertise to a collective project built over forty years. This award belongs to all of them.”
Álvaro Olavarría, CEO of Oleoestepa S.C.A.
