WOODSIDE olive oil producer Ron Baker can claim to have the best olive oil in the state, after winning an award at the Royal Adelaide Show to back that up.
During judging of his Woodside Farm's extra virgin olive oil, he scored 94 points out of a possible 100, winning the title of Best SA Olive Oil, and a Royal Adelaide Show gold medal.
The judges praised it as "complex and delicious" in their tasting notes, making mention of the "fresh aromatic floral notes" alongside the hints of "herbs, cut grass and tropical fruits".
"Excellent flavour transfer to the palate... well-balanced bitterness and pungency with smooth lingering finish," they said.
Mr Baker said the first step to good quality olive oil was the location.
"We have good elevation with a colder climate," he said.
"A bit like grapes, we get the lesser yield but great flavours."
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He said they also had a big pruning program to ensure the 6500 olive trees on Woodside Farm remained healthy, since heavy trees were more susceptible to disease.
The oil is processed at Diana Olive Oil, Willunga, and sold mainly in Adelaide Hills supermarkets and fruit and vegetable shops.
The winning olive oil was made from a blend of three varieties - Frantoio, Leccino and Coratino.
"They're all Tuscan varieties, which are best-suited to the Adelaide Hills," he said.
Last year, Woodside Farm won a silver medal in the show judging.
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