Chiavalon in Croatia declared best olive oil hospitality in Europe
- by croatiaweek
- in Food & Wine
Chiavalon from the Istrian town of Vodnjan has been declared as the best olive oil hospitality in Europe.
At the prestigious Premio Il Magnifico awards ceremony held in Tuscany last night, and dedicated to the best producers of extra virgin olive oil in Europe, Vodnjan’s Chiavalon oil groves and mill was declared the best olive oil hospitality in Europe (Best Oil Hospitality 2024).
Two years ago, they won the so-called “olive Oscar,” Il Magnifico, for the best olive oil company at the same competition. Last year, they received the award for the “Best of North Adriatic Region” and made it to the top three finalists. This year, they’ve clinched a truly significant and prestigious award.
(Photo: Chiavalon/Facebook)
“In 2008, we built the first olive oil tasting room in Istria when we ourselves didn’t fully grasp the potential of olive oil tourism. We believed in the idea of offering our guests the best possible experience that would forge long-term connections with us and with the destination,” the Chiavalon family said in a statement, adding.
“We encouraged our colleagues to follow this path with the vision that Istria must become the best olive-growing destination in the world. In 2020, we built a new mill, a kind of olive-growing center, where we elevated the level of service we provide and developed a whole range of activities and tasting-educational programs. Today, in Vodnjan, in Istria, we have dozens of beautiful tasting rooms owned by valuable olive-growing families. That’s why this award holds multiple meanings for us. This is a reward for the whole family for everything we’ve accomplished together over the years,”
(Photo: Chiavalon/Facebook)
They also added that they believe this award belongs to all their hardworking employees who have embraced their philosophy and who, they say, have fully invested themselves in every product and service they offer at their mill.
“Without them, none of this would be possible. This is a reward for all the diligent fellow olive growers who tell the story of Istrian olive oil in their tasting rooms every day and tirelessly educate tens of thousands of guests about the genuine, natural, unadulterated olive oil. And finally, this is a reward for Istria and all its people who have transformed this beautiful region into one of the most desirable places in the world over the past two decades,” said the Chiavalon family.
(Photo: Chiavalon/Facebook)
Apart from Chiavalon, celebrations in Tuscany also included Damir Vanđelić from the family agricultural estate (Bale), whose Nono Remiđo oil was declared the best oil in the region and received the Best New Entry 2023 award.
View this post on Instagram
Premio Il Magnifico is one of the most important awards in the world of olive growing, dedicated to recognising the producers of the best extra virgin olive oils in Europe.
