The good oil from Paul Holmes

News release                                                                                                  

The good oil from Paul Holmes

Paul Holmes’ mantelpiece just got a little more crowded. The multi-award winning broadcaster has picked up two new wins – but this time they have little to do with the airwaves.

Paul Holmes’ Mana Lodge olive oils have won gold and silver medals at the Olives New Zealand 2007 National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards.

Mana Lodge Leccino was one of 18 gold medals awarded in the Single Varietal class while Holmes’ Frantoio / Picholene oil took a silver in the medium class, one of 22 awarded.

Holmes and  Mana Lodge farm manager Nigel Mackintosh have been growing olive trees at the broadcaster’s Hawkes Bay property since 2000.

Last year Mana Lodge’s first harvest Frantoio Olive Oil won a silver medal in the Hawke’s Bay Olive Oil awards while both the Frantoio and Leccino varieties were widely praised.

“It’s pretty humbling to have only our second harvest achieve gold and silver at the national awards,” Holmes says. “I’m extremely proud of my fantastic team who have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into producing quality olive oils. It’s quite amazing really but also extremely rewarding.”

Now in their seventh year, the national awards are regarded as New Zealand’s most prestigious, in 2007 attracting 104 entries with nearly half of them achieving gold medals.

Judging is blind and all the judges are trained to International Olive Council standards. This year the international guest judge was Roberto Zecca, president of the California Olive Oil Council.

Nestled among Hawke’s Bay’s rolling hills, Mana Lodge sits on 150 acres of prime farmland. Holmes bought Mana Lodge in 2000 after falling in love with the property on his first visit. Mana Lodge Olive Oils are sold throughout New Zealand and overseas.

www.manalodge.co.nz

 
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