Okay, friends. Buckle up. Because if you think olive oil is just that thing you drizzle on salad, Istria is about to absolutely wreck your worldview — in the best possible way.

This tiny peninsula at the top of the Adriatic has been quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) dominating the global olive oil scene for over a decade. The prestigious Flos Olei guide has named Istria the world’s best olive oil region nine times — putting it shoulder-to-shoulder with Tuscany and Puglia. Except Istria is roughly the size of a large Italian parking lot by comparison. And yet here we are.

Let me take you through some of the absolute legends of Istrian olive oil — the bottles that have judges in New York, Rome, and Tokyo reaching for superlatives.

Mate Oil Mill — The Perfect Score Queen of Savudrija

Let’s start at the very top. Aleksandra Vekić’s Mate olive oil from Savudrija has scored a perfect 100 out of 100 in the Flos Olei guide — and not just once, but three consecutive years, earning a spot in the exclusive Hall of Fame. That’s like getting three Michelin stars but for olive oil, and there’s no snooty maître d’ guarding the door. The Savudrija coastline does something magical to these olives, and Aleksandra clearly knows how to listen.

Chiavalon — The Vodnjan Powerhouse

If there’s one name that even casual olive oil fans have heard from Istria, it’s Chiavalon. Based in the sun-drenched town of Vodnjan (which, fun fact, has a church with actual mummified saints — but that’s another post), the Chiavalon family has been nurturing olive groves for generations. Their oils deliver intense fruity aromas with that gorgeous balance of bitterness and spice that makes you want to just dip bread for an hour straight. Their Ex Albis blend is a showstopper — NYIOOC Gold medal winner and Flos Olei darling with scores of 98.

Ipša — The Quiet Genius from Livade

The Ipša family operates out of the tiny village of Ipši, near Livade — yes, the same Livade famous for its truffle auction. And honestly, the oil rivals the truffles for sheer “I can’t believe this comes from such a small place” energy. Scoring 99 in Flos Olei 2026, Ipša’s extra virgin olive oils are consistently among the most awarded Croatian oils on the international circuit. Subtle, complex, and effortlessly elegant — like a great jazz musician who makes it look easy.

Olea B.B. — Made with Love (Literally)

Bosiljka Belić’s Olea B.B. is the kind of operation that makes you believe in the magic of small-batch everything. Running a 12-hectare grove with 4,500 olive trees, she’s earned Flos Olei scores of 99 and NYIOOC Gold awards every year from 2021 to 2025. The guide even gave her the “Made with Love” farm recognition, and honestly, you can taste it. Her oils have this warmth to them — green, herbaceous, with a peppery kick that sneaks up on you like a plot twist.

Al Torcio — The Multi-Varietal Maestro

Al Torcio is one of those producers that just keeps collecting hardware. Two NYIOOC Golds and a Silver in 2019 alone (for their Frantoio, Itrana, and Rosulja varieties), and they’ve been listed in Flos Olei continuously since 2005. That’s twenty-plus years of being officially excellent. Their secret? They work with multiple olive varietals and coax something unique out of each one. If olive oil had a greatest hits album, Al Torcio would need a double LP.

More Names to Know

The depth of talent in Istria is honestly absurd for a region this size. Keep an eye (and taste buds) out for Zubin (98 in Flos Olei), Matteo Belci (98), Grubić (97), Primizia by San Rocco (97 — yes, the boutique hotel also makes world-class oil, because of course they do), Monte Rosso (97), and Červar (97). A total of 18 Istrian producers scored above 95 in the latest Flos Olei edition, landing them in the prestigious “extra class” tier.

And at the 2025 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, Croatian producers earned an astonishing 125 awards — outperforming much larger Mediterranean countries. With 2026 results still rolling in, Istrian producers like Avistria (cultivating 4,800 trees near Sveti Lovreč) and the Bilini brand are already showing up on the winners’ list.

Why Does Istria Punch So Far Above Its Weight?

A few reasons, and I will happily talk about all of them to anyone who’ll listen. First: the Istarska Bjelica — an indigenous olive variety that produces complex oils with distinctive notes of artichoke, almond, and green vegetation. It’s a temperamental little fruit, but in the right hands, it’s extraordinary. Second: these are almost entirely small, family-run operations. We’re talking people who know every single tree by name (okay, maybe not literally, but close). The attention to detail is obsessive in the best way. And third: the terroir — that combination of red Istrian soil, Adriatic breezes, and just enough sunshine to make everything sing.

How to Get Your Hands on the Good Stuff

If you’re visiting Istria, do yourself a massive favor: skip the souvenir magnets and bring home olive oil. Most producers offer tastings — and trust me, once you try a proper fresh Istrian EVOO, that supermarket bottle back home will never hit the same. The towns of Vodnjan, Buje, and Novigrad are particularly rich hunting grounds, and the annual Vinistra and olive oil festivals are basically paradise for anyone with functioning taste buds.

Welcome to Istria. Where the olive oil is world-class, the producers are passionate beyond reason, and every drizzle tells a story that’s been centuries in the making.

Živjeli! 🫒

Planning your Istrian adventure? Explore our Istria Food & Wine Guide or browse our Complete Istria Travel Guide.