Lot Eight extra virgin olive oil from Martinborough has been selected to grace the table of the Fresh Olive Oil Club in Britain.
The Fresh Olive Oil Club was established by a group of food and oil experts in the UK interested in sourcing the best and freshest extra virgin olive
oils the world has to offer, Lot Eight oilmaker Nalini Baruch said.
Oils are selected by top olive oil experts and savants accredited to the International Olive Oil Council, she said, with selection a rare honour as very few oils from the southern hemisphere have to date made the club menu.
"To be considered producers must first demonstrate a commitment to excellence and their products must be of consistently high quality and freshness."
Mrs Brauch said club members are committed to sourcing quality products from around the world and celebrating new releases in this category. It includes some of the top chefs and food critics in Britain and Europe.
Lot Eight is the first EVOO producer in the Wairarapa and one of only a few in New Zealand to attain such a high level of international recognition, she said.
As a boutique brand, Lot Eight has produced gold medal oils for over five years from fruit grown at its own and neighbouring groves near Martinborough.
Mrs Baruch said that after the Best in Class win for their Koroneiki blend in 2007 the oil was showcased with other New Zealand winners at an IOOC sponsored savant conference in Spain at the beginning of the year.
World-renowned olive expert, consultant and a founder of the Olive Oil Club, Judy Ridgeway, singled out Lot Eight as "truly special" and said the oil remained fresh, fruity and balanced more than eight months after harvest, which was a sign of excellent oil
"Samples of Lot Eight 2008 oils were consequently requested for their exclusive club," Mrs Baruch said.
