California olive oil competition announces 2026 winners
Judges award Best of Show across four categories
– The 2026 Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, hosted by the California Mid-State Fair, brought together producers from across California for blind tastings judged under international standards.
Trained judges evaluated entries using blue tasting glasses, assessing fruitiness, bitterness, and pungency. Palates were reset between tastings with green apples and bread to maintain consistency.
“If you can’t taste bitterness, you can’t be a judge,” said Chief Judge Deborah Rogers.
Judging panels progressed from delicate to robust oils. Organizers said the process is both sensory and scientific, and that a peppery finish, sometimes described as a “two-cough” oil, is considered a mark of quality.
The blue tasting glasses were used to eliminate visual bias, ensuring color did not influence perception and keeping the focus on aroma and flavor.
After blind tastings featuring producers from across California, judges awarded top honors to Cobram Estate of Woodland for Best of Show Delicate, Rio Bravo Ranch of Bakersfield for Best of Show Medium, Heart Rock Ranch Olive Oil of San Miguel for Best of Show Robust, and Sunshine Olive Oil of Templeton for Best of Show Flavored.
Sunshine Olive Oil was named Olive Oil Producer of the Year, an award given to the producer with the highest-scoring oils across the competition and requiring a minimum of three entries. The Templeton-based producer earned back-to-back titles.
Organizers said the honor will be commemorated with a championship belt buckle and a billboard on Highway 101 near the Cuesta Grade. Award-winning oils will be displayed during the fair.
In the Central Coast Packaging and Design Competition, Sunshine Olive Oil received awards for Best Label and Best Packaging.
Organizers said entries reflected California’s olive-growing regions, including Kelseyville, Woodland, Lomita, Paso Robles, Templeton, and San Miguel.
“I wasn’t expecting that—the flavor is incredible,” one judge said during tasting.
The California Mid-State Fair will run July 15–26 at the Paso Robles Event Center.
