The prestigious Mario Solinas Quality Award, which each year recognises the best extra virgin olive oils, will be held in Argentina in 2025 as part of a special edition of the competition dedicated solely to oils from the Southern Hemisphere.
This initiative opens the door to a wide range of exceptional extra virgin olive oils from the olive-growing regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
The Mario Solinas Quality Award, organised by the International Olive Council (IOC) for extra virgin olive oils, was launched during the 2000–2001 crop year to honour and commemorate the memory of Italian Professor Mario Solinas, a great promoter of the sensory analysis of virgin olive oil. The primary objective of the competition is to reward extra virgin olive oils displaying the best sensory characteristics in each of the categories defined in the competition rules. In addition to recognising the meticulous work and dedication of producers, the award has become a benchmark within the olive sector and encourages producers to reach new heights in terms of quality.
The 2025 edition of the IOC Mario Solinas Quality Award for extra virgin olive oils from the Southern Hemisphere will take place in San Juan, Argentina.
This decision highlights the IOC’s commitment to promoting and strengthening excellence and quality in olive oils worldwide. It also reflects the desire to foster international cooperation, share best practices, and recognise outstanding extra virgin olive oil producers across the globe.
This initiative will also strengthen the ties between the IOC and countries of the Southern Hemisphere, with the hope of encouraging new countries from the region to join the international organisation.
The rules for this new edition of the Mario Solinas Quality Award for Southern Hemisphere extra virgin olive oils are available here in English, French and Spanish.
Samples of extra virgin olive oils from the 2024–2025 crop year, along with the required documents, must be sent by 8 August 2025 to the following address:
Ministry of Production, Labour and Innovation – Directorate of Foreign Trade
[Av. Libertador 750 (O), 4th Floor, East Wing, Core 5 – Postal Code: J5400ARU – San Juan – Argentine Republic]