The California State Fair is excited to announce the top winners of the 2026 Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, recognizing the finest Extra Virgin and Flavored Olive Oils made from 100 percent olives grown, milled, and packaged in California.
Now in its eleventh year, the prestigious competition celebrates the excellence and diversity of California’s olive oil industry. After a rigorous blind tasting conducted by a panel of professional sensory judges led by Head Judge Julie Menge, three exceptional oils earned the competition’s highest honors, Best of Show.
“The California State Fair Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition truly celebrates and honors our many olive oil producers across all regions of the state that continue to produce the finest of California olive oils,” said Menge.
Best of Show Award Winners
Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Frantoio Grove, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
San Martin, CA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Blend
Capay Valley Olive, French Blend
Capay, CA
Flavored Olive Oil
McEvoy Ranch, Organic Ginger Turmeric
Petaluma, CA
The 2026 Best of Show Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil is Frantoio Grove, Extra Virgin Olive Oil from San Martin, CA. This high polyphenol oil is made from estate grown Frantoio olives, picked at the first sign of ripening, and milled on site within 90 minutes of harvest for freshness, flavor, and balance. Patrick Martin, Owner, Grower and Miller of Frantoio Grove Olive Oil, and a 6th generation farmer, attributes the success of his olive orchard to regenerative farming and biologically intensive management.
“Winning this award for our Regenerative Organic Certified olive oil validates the work we’ve done to rebuild living soil in our orchard,” said Martin. “As soil biology and tree health improve, the oils have developed more aroma, energy, and complexity.”
The 2026 Best of Show Extra Virgin Olive Oil Blend is Capay Valley Olive, French Blend, from Capay, CA. This is Capay Valley’s first year entering the California State Fair Competition, as well as their very first harvest and first milling. Sherri Wood, owner of Capay Valley Olive and Capay Valley Lavender has curated a blend that impressed judges, who said it, “Smells like summer.”
“This award celebrates the terroir of Capay Valley and the many hands behind this oil. My thanks to CalAthena for designing the blend, Chacewater Mill for expert milling, and the UC Davis Olive Oil Center for the research and standards that support our craft,” said Wood.
The 2026 Best of Show Flavored Olive Oil is McEvoy Ranch, Organic Ginger Turmeric Olive Oil from Petaluma, CA. This oil is produced by co-milling fresh, organic ginger root and turmeric together with McEvoy’s estate olives. Three generations of the McEvoy family have been producing high-quality olive oils since 1990.
“Winning Best of Show at the California State Fair for our 2025 Harvest Ginger Turmeric Olive Oil is a profound validation of our team’s unwavering dedication to creating innovative, vibrant flavor profiles in olive oil,” said Samantha Dorsey, President of McEvoy Ranch. “We invite everyone to experience this unique blend, as an ingredient in everyday cooking or as a healthy tonic, which we have crafted with the same passion and meticulous care that has defined McEvoy Ranch for over three decades.”
This year’s competition featured 216 entries from producers across California’s major olive growing regions, reflecting the continued strength, innovation, and quality of the state’s olive oil industry. Entries were evaluated through a blind sensory tasting process and scored based on aroma, flavor, and finish, according to internationally recognized extra virgin olive oil standards.
“Olive oil production continues to grow with increased consumer demand for local, sustainable, high-quality olive oils,” Menge continued. “It is exciting for the judges to taste, evaluate and award medals to those entries that meet and exceed the rigorous standards with the finalists being the most exceptional, carefully crafted, outstanding extra virgin olive oils. We are very fortunate to live where we have access to locally produced, high-quality, California extra virgin olive oils.”
The following are Best of California Award Winners of the other categories:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Micro-Producer (Two olive oils tied for this award)
Balestrieri, Estate Blend
Briones, CA
Luretík Estate Olive Oil, “Meridione” Certified Organic
Solvang, CA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil by an Artisan Producer
Capay Valley Olive, French Blend
Capay, CA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil by a Large Producer
ENZO, Organic Medium
Madera, CA
Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Delicate Intensity
Olive Truck, Arbequina-California
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA
Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Medium Intensity
Frantoio Grove, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
San Martin, CA
Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Robust Intensity
Marcum Olive, Itrana
Paso Robles, CA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Blend, Delicate Intensity
Luretík Estate Olive Oil, “Sicily” Certified Organic
Solvang, CA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Blend, Medium Intensity
Capay Valley Olive, French Blend
Capay, CA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Blend, Robust Intensity
Gold Ridge Organic Farms, Picholine Blend
Sebastopol, CA
Co-Milled Flavored Olive Oil
McEvoy Ranch, Organic Ginger Turmeric
Petaluma, CA
“The California State Fair extends its congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 Commercial Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo and the California State Fair. “Their achievements reflect the innovation, dedication, and agricultural excellence found throughout California’s olive oil industry.”
During the 2026 California State Fair, fair guests will be able to explore award-winning extra virgin and flavored olive oils through educational exhibits, cooking demonstrations, tastings, and opportunities to purchase products directly from California producers.
Complete results and competition information can be found at CAStateFair.com
About the California State Fair
The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future. The 2023 State Fair will include a comprehensive set of competitions, including California’s best commercial wines, cheeses, craft beers, cannabis, olive oils, and fine arts, among others.