Istria has once again earned remarkable recognition on the international stage for its extra virgin olive oil. In the newly published edition of the Flos Olei guide, Istria stands among the top three regions worldwide — alongside Tuscany and Apulia — reaffirming its global leadership in quality, with 68 olive growers featured.  

For the ninth time, the prestigious international guide Flos Olei 2026, which showcases the finest producers from five continents, has named Istria the world’s best region for extra virgin olive oil.  

The Flos Olei guide selects the 500 finest olive oils from more than a thousand entries, and Istria stands out with an impressive 14% share on the global stage. This remarkable figure reflects the region’s unwavering continuity of excellence, dedication, and the professional strength of its producers.  

Equally noteworthy is the achievement of 18 Istrian olive oil producers, each scoring above 95 points — placing them in the prestigious “extra class,” the highest quality category according to Flos Olei standards. This extraordinary success confirms that Istria leads not only in the number of producers but also in delivering consistent, world-class quality.  

Adding to these accolades, Savudrija’s Mate olive oil, by Aleksandra Vekić, has for the third consecutive year secured a place in the Hall of Fame with a perfect score of 100 out of 100 points.

With excitement and pride, all eyes now turn to the results in the The Best category, which honours estates with special awards for excellence.

Flos Olei, known as the “Bible of Extra Virgin Olive Oils,” is an international guide published by renowned journalist and food-and-wine critic Marco Oreggia, in collaboration with Laura Marinelli. Released in multilingual editions, the guide evaluates olive oils based on their organoleptic qualities, adhering to the strictest standards of its expert tasting panel.

»» Learn more about the Flos Olei 2026 guide: flosolei.com

 [September 25, 2025]