In the heart of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park, in the municipality of Carcabuey (Córdoba), the best extra virgin olive oil in Spain is made. El Rincón de la Subbética, liquid gold characterized by a very intense fruity flavor of green olives, belongs to the Almazaras de la Subbética Agricultural Cooperative and has already held this title on numerous occasions, as well as more than 650 national and international awards since 2004.
El Rincón de la Subbética, in addition to coming in first place in the Spanish Special Food Award category, has been recognized as the Best Organically Produced Oil. Both awards, among others, are awarded annually by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the Spanish Food Award for Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils based on an organoleptic evaluation - with a blind tasting - and a physical-chemical analysis.
In addition to the fruity flavor that makes it unique, Rincón de la Subbética is an oil with notes of mint, leaf, alloza, thyme, tomato and other green fruits such as banana, apple and citrus. The palate is slightly sweet and bitter on the palate, and spicy with medium-high intensity. It is an almond-shaped, persistent, highly complex and balanced oil, organic and of the Hojiblanca variety.
As indicated in its technical sheet, it is a perfect oil to pair toasts, toasts and gourmet dishes, mixed and tomato salads, meats and oily fish. The 500 ml bottle of Rincón de la Subbética can be purchased for €20.95 through its website.
In the Bitter Green Frutado modality, the prize went to the oil presented by Almazara de Muela, while the award for the best oil in the Sweet Green Frutado modality went to the Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza Olivarera La Purísima. Both, along with the Rincón de la Subbética, have the Priego de Córdoba Designation of Origin.
This DOP, the same as that of Rincón de la Subbética oil, is located in the heart of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park, declared a Geopark by UNESCO. There are more than six families dedicated to taking care of their olive groves, most of which are located at 1000 meters of altitude, and who work with three varieties of grapes: hojiblanca, picual and picuda. Additionally, the Priego de Córdoba Denomination of Origin is the most awarded in the world, with around 2,500 awards worldwide.
The last modality, that of Frutado Maduro, has awarded the prize to the oil presented by Center Oleícola del Penedés, in Llorenç del Penedés (Tarragona), with Siurana Protected Designation of Origin.
The selection procedure for the winning oils, including sensory evaluation and physical-chemical analyses, has been developed in the Agri-Food Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. For the sensory evaluation, the heads of the different official panels of tasters from the public administrations have participated, directed and coordinated by the head of the ministry panel. Throughout the selection process, the traceability and anonymity of the 59 samples that have participated in this edition of the contest has been guaranteed.
The order of granting the prizes can be consulted in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
