In addition to the breathtaking landscapes of the Atlantic Forest, the Serra da Mantiqueira also produces one of the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils, according to a prestigious international competition in Italy!
The EVO International Olive Oil Contest (EVO IOOC) is one of the world’s leading olive oil competitions. In addition to attracting a large number of participating countries, the event features judges with high technical expertise to evaluate each sample.
In this year’s edition, Sabiá Olive Oil, from Santo Antônio do Pinhal in the Serra da Mantiqueira region, won the gold medal for producing one of the best extra virgin olive oils in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the blind tasting, the tasters do not know the brand or the origin of the product. While evaluating the olive oil, they conduct a sensory analysis of aroma and intensity, and also perform chemical analyses to verify quality parameters.
Scores are assigned on a scale in which olive oils scoring 85 points or higher are awarded the gold medal, while those scoring between 65 and 84 points receive the silver medal.
Sabiá Olive Oil: The Icon of São Paulo’s Mantiqueira Region
Handcrafted at Fazenda do Campo Alto in Santo Antônio do Pinhal, Sabiá Olive Oil is one of the leading examples of high-quality Brazilian olive oil. In fact, it has already earned the nickname “the new gold” of the Serra da Mantiqueira.
Led by the couple Bob Costa and Bia Pereira, Sabiá Olive Oil is also produced at Fazenda Sabiá da Vigia, in Encruzilhada do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul.
The olive oil from the Serra da Mantiqueira region originated from an experiment conducted by a couple in Santo Antônio do Pinhal in 2014. Upon realizing that the olive trees had adapted perfectly to the region’s mountain climate, Bia and Bob decided to launch the brand on the market in 2020.
From the very beginning, Sabiá was marketed as a premium-line product and was created with the goal of competing in international contests. As proof of the olive oil’s excellence, the brand has already earned dozens of international medals.
Today, Fazenda Campo Alto has 17 hectares of olive groves. The olive oils have diverse profiles, ranging from fruity to those with greater intensity and pungency. In other words, they are perfect for pairing with pasta, seafood, salmon, cod, and meats.
How to Visit the Campo Alto Farm
A major tourist attraction in São Paulo’s Serra da Mantiqueira, the farm in Santo Antônio do Pinhal welcomes visitors for guided tours and tastings. On the traditional tour, visitors can learn about olive cultivation and see up close an olive tree over 300 years old, transplanted from Uruguay.
In addition, you can visit the mill and take part in guided tastings. In fact, there you’ll learn how to classify flavors, aromas, and even the defects in olive oils during a true technical workshop.
In fact, another way to sample Sabiá Olive Oil is to visit the farm’s own pizzeria, which is open on weekends.
Finally, farm tours take place Thursday through Monday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. Tickets start at R$70 per person, and reservations can be made via WhatsApp.
