Boutique Martinborough olive oil made by husband and wife team Leanne French and Greg Keith has won a gold medal at the Olives New Zealand 2010 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards.
"We always joke that everything Greg touches turns to gold," Mrs French says.
Competing against more than 100 olive oils across
new Zealand, Mad (Martinborough Art Department) Extra Virgin Olive Oil struck gold in the Boutique Medium Blend category and was further awarded Best in Class.
After living in Auckland for many years, Mrs French and Mr Keith moved to the Wairarapa for the lifestyle, and Mr Keith's "green fingers" helped turn their old, wilting olive trees into thriving ones.
"Greg has always been really good with growing things," Mrs French says.
The pair thoroughly enjoy making olive oil, a process that relies heavily on nature.
"Nature and it's wildness can really affect your crop, so you've just got to work with what you've got sometimes," Mrs French says.
Mrs French is a counsellor and freelance writer, while Mr Keith makes television commercials in Auckland every fortnight. Mrs French says they enjoy making olive oil more because it's not their livelihood.
"It really takes the stress off and it's a lot of fun having our friends and family around to help us. That's why we say the olive oil is infused with love."
