Atelj Zagrad from Croatia has won a Gold Award at the 2025 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world’s most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

The Dalmatian producer earned its debut World Competition accolade for it’s AZ brand, a medium-intensity blend of Frantoio, Coratina, Leccino, Oblica, and Pendolino olives.

“For a small family business like ours, olives are part of the family, almost like our fourth child,” said owner Krešimir Atelj. “Imagine sending your child alone to the biggest competition in the world. Imagine the anticipation. Imagine the moment when you see the Gold Award. That’s how we felt. Our child succeeded.”

In the 2024/25 crop year, Atelj Zagrad produced 1,600 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods.

“The long, hot summers in Dalmatia, Croatia, with almost a three-month absence of rain, are very challenging for our non-irrigated olive trees,” Atelj explained.

“The upside of such droughts and high temperatures is the complete absence of pests. So even though we get smaller yields, the olives are perfectly healthy – which in the end, makes us happy,” he added.

Atelj Zagrad has been listed on the Olive Oil Times World Ranking.

https://bestoliveoils.org/news/atelj-zagrad