"This year the quality has been incredible; it has been more difficult than in previous editions," stated Brígida Jiménez, director of the tasting panel, announcing this year’s selections for the Jaén Selección award.
The Jaén Selección distinction was created by the Diputación of Jaén in 2003 to promote, commercialize, and encourage the consumption of oils from Jaén, as well as to motivate producers to achieve high-quality oils. Since 2003, the renowned award has recognized the top 8 Picual variety olive oils of each harvest, 7 conventional and 1 organic.
On this occasion, the 8 oils awarded the "Jaén Selección 2022" seal were selected from a total of 77 EVOOs from 42 municipalities, 13 more than the previous year. The president of the Diputación of Jaén, Francisco Reyes, stated, “Interest in obtaining the Jaén Selección quality seal is confirmed by one fact: this year again broke the record for mills and cooperatives submitted to this tasting competition.”
The “Jaén Selección” 2022 Extra Virgin Olive Oils
As traditionally cultivated EVOOs:
- Oro Bailén Reserva Familiar Picual, from Aceites Oro Bailén Galgón 99 SL (Villanueva de la Reina)
- Esencial, from SCA Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Peal de Becerro)
- Olibaeza, from SCA El Alcázar (Baeza)
- Dominus, from Monva (Mancha Real)
- Esencial Olive, from Oleícola San Francisco SL (Begíjar)
- Balcón del Guadalquivir, from SCA San Felipe Apóstol (Baeza)
- Magnasur, from SCA Bedmarense (Bedmar)
As organic EVOO:
- Melgarejo, from Aceites Campolivo (Pegalajar)
The 8 best extra virgin olive oils of the 2021/22 campaign will be promoted by the Diputación Provincial de Jaén at events held in 2022 such as San Sebastián Gastronómika, the Michelín Gala, Fitur, Madrid Fusión, among other planned activities.
