Tag Archives: great southern groves

WAGFG 2025 Producer of the Year

In Western Australia we have what’s called the Western Australia Good Food Guide (WAGFG).  It’s a well regarded WA organisation that independently reviews hospitality venues throughout our state.  Each year they list their top 100 restaurants plus the top venues within that 100.

There are also awards for Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant etc. These are all awarded via independent and anonymous reviews, over multiple visits.

Included in the list of awards is the annual Producer of the Year. This award is actually voted by the Chefs nominating their favourite producers.

Well… the 2025 Producer of the Year is Great Southern Groves.

We are absolutely thrilled to be awarded this honour. There are so many amazing producers in Western Australia and to receive this award is very humbling.

We truly love supplying to the hospitality industry in WA, plus our many other customers through retail and online. Thank you to all of you, from the bottom of our hearts. 

If you would like to know more about the WA Good Food Guide, their Top 100 Restaurants and the full list of awards, click the link below.

WA GOOD FOOD GUIDE

Great Southern Groves 2024 Silver Award

How Olive Oil is Judged: From Chemistry to Taste

For anyone passionate about high-quality olive oil, knowing how it is judged can deepen your appreciation for premium quality olive oil. Australia olive oil competitions uphold strict standards by combining scientific analysis with expert tasting. Here’s are the key steps in assessing an olive oil’s quality and what these evaluations mean for both consumers and producers.

Step 1: Chemical Testing

Chemical analysis begins the judging, focusing on four main indicators:

% Free Fatty Acid (FFA): A low FFA suggests good grove and processing practices. For an olive oil to be called ‘Extra Virgin’, is needs to have a FFA% under 0.8%.

Peroxide Value (PV): This measures oxidation levels, giving insights into the oil’s freshness and storage conditions. The maximum peroxide value for an Extra Virgin Olive Oil is 20 with high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil having a peroxide value below 12.

UV Absorbance: This test helps assess the oil’s preservation state, indicating whether it has started to degrade.

Polyphenol Content: Polyphenols affect both taste and health benefits. High-polyphenol oils offer robust flavours, while lower levels result in milder, delicate oils, categorized as ‘R’ (robust), ‘M’ (medium), or ‘D’ (delicate).

These chemical measures provide a reliable foundation to gauge quality before tasting.

Step 2: Sensory Assessment

Australian olive oil competitions use the Australian Olive Association’s 100-point scoring system. This includes an assessment of the oil’s freshness, aroma, and flavour complexity, balance, and aftertaste.

AROMA being good fruit intensity, complexity & absence of faults.

PALATE including good fruit intensity, the bitterness & pungency, balance and absence of faults

COMPLEXITY balance, including bitterness & pungency.

This judging process gives consumers confidence, knowing the oil’s quality is confirmed scientifically and through expert taste, helping them find the ideal oil for their culinary needs.

Great Southern Groves – Tuscan Style, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and PRIMA Extra Virgin Olive Oil have both won SILVER at the recent, 2024 – WA Olive Awards.

These awards are run annually by Western Australian Olive Association. Judged by world class olive oil judges, overseen by moderator, Isabella Okis.

The judge’s description of our oil:

Tuscan Style Extra Virgin Olive Oil

(In all of our bottles, tins and boxes)

AROMA: Fresh and strong aromas of tomato leaf and thyme.
PALATE: Pleasant creamy palate; grassy, tomato leaf and tomatoes transfer from aromas.
COMPLEXITY: Balanced finish with some persistence.

Tuscan Style Extra Virgin Olive Oil Chemical Analysis:
FFA%: 0.2
Peroxide: 6
Polyphenol: 382

PRIMA Extra Virgin Olive Oil

(Limited release – SOLD OUT)

AROMA: Floral bouquet aromas together with rocket and capsicum.

PALATE: Fruits transferred well with added banana and tomato leaf and herbs with mild bitterness and pungency.

COMPLEXITY: Balanced and complex.

PRIMA Extra Virgin Olive Oil Chemical Analysis:
FFA%: 0.2
Peroxide: 6
Polyphenol: 349

A new Art Series bottle coming in 2024

We’re excited to reveal the latest painting for our Art Series refillable bottles.
‘Fly High’ a stunning commissioned piece by WA artist Emma Blyth.

Following the success of Silvereye in the Grove, Emma has once again captured the essence of our beautiful Western Australian birds, this time a white-cheeked honeyeater in the banksias.

We also work with graphic designer Greenhouse Studio to convert the painting to a file suitable for glass printing… Mosman Glass printers, where the piece is permanently painted/ printed onto our unique bottles from Plasdene Glass-Pak.

These bottles are filled with award winning Australian olive oil —perfect for unique, thoughtful gifts! A perfect way to blend art, sustainability, and practical gifting.