Every year, the international olive oil guide Flos Olei evaluates around 500 producers from five continents – and crowns the best region in the world. In 2026, Istria took the title for the ninth time, ahead of Tuscany and Puglia. Here is the top of the official list: all Istrian producers with 95 points or more, as published by the Istria Tourism Board.
The 2026 ranking – Istria at the top
Flos Olei evaluates each producer, not each individual bottle. The score therefore applies to the farm as a whole. Producers whose oils you can get from us are marked.
| Producer | Location | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mate Hall of Fame, 3rd year in a row | Savudrija | 100 |
| Olea B.B. | Rabac | 99 |
| Ipša ★ available at Masino | Livade, Mirnatal | 99 |
| O.P.G. Zubin | Vodnjan | 98 |
| O.P.G. Matteo Belci (Meloto) ★ available at Masino | Vodnjan | 98 |
| O.P.G. Chiavalon ★ available at Masino | Vodnjan | 98 |
| Grubić | Istria | 97 |
| Primizia – San Rocco | Brtonigla | 97 |
| O.P.G. Oliveri | Istria | 97 |
| Červar | Istria | 97 |
| Negri Olive | Istria | 97 |
| Monte Rosso | Savudrija | 97 |
| O.P.G. Damir Vanđelić | Istria | 96 |
| O.P.G. Buršić | Istria | 96 |
| Terra Eno Olea | Istria | 96 |
| Tonin | Istria | 96 |
| Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery | Bale | 95 |
| Uljara Al Torcio ★ available at Masino | Novigrad | 95 |
| O.P.G. Marko Geržinić | Istria | 95 |
Source: Istria Tourism Board, "Istrian Olive Growers in the Flos Olei 2026 Olive Oil Guide". A total of 68 Istrian producers are listed – you can find the full list on istra.hr.
What the points mean
Flos Olei evaluates every submitted oil by a panel of experts and rates it based on organoleptic criteria – fruitiness, bitterness, pungency, harmony, and absence of defects. Those that score below 80 points do not make it into the guide at all. From 95 points, Flos Olei speaks of the highest quality class. 100 points are only awarded to producers who maintain this top position for years – hence the "Hall of Fame".
What the list does not say: It evaluates the producer, not each bottle individually. A 99-point producer can bottle several varieties. And it says nothing about price, availability, or whether you can get the oil outside of Istria at all.
Four of the best – directly from us
We have been working with four of the top producers for years. Not through importers, but directly – my parents pick up the bottles in Istria.
Ipša – 99 points
The Ipša family, 5 hectares high above the Mirnatal, 1,000 trees, certified organic. In the international guides without interruption since 2005. Three single-variety oils: Leccino (mild, the all-rounder), Frantoio (green, peppery) and Selekcija (the house blend).
Chiavalon – 98 points
Tedi and Sandi Chiavalon, Vodnjan. 7,500 trees, hand-picked, from olive to press in two to three hours. Ex Albis has been our best-selling oil for years. Plus the two grandfather blends Romano (mild, with fish) and Atilio (full-bodied, with meat).
Matteo Belci (Meloto) – 98 points
The smallest of our farms and in Istria primarily known for its Buža – the indigenous variety that only grows there. Matteo Belci runs the farm in the second generation in Vodnjan. Find out more about all our farms on the Farmers page.
Al Torcio – 95 points
The Beletić family in Novigrad, continuously in Flos Olei since 2005. The Itrana won gold in Paris and New York and platinum in London. Single-variety Leccino and Itrana.
The new harvest is coming
The 2026 harvest is currently being brought in. We deliberately collect small quantities in mid-November – small family farms do not deliver later. Those who pre-order will secure their bottles and receive them from the first delivery.
Pre-order – 20% until November 30
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flos Olei?
An annual international guide to extra virgin olive oil, published by Marco Oreggia and Laura Marinelli in Rome. A panel of experts evaluates over a thousand submitted oils from five continents and selects around 500 of the best producers. In the industry, it is considered a reference.
Why is Istria the best region for the ninth time?
Because no other region has so many producers in the top field: 68 Istrian farms are in the 2026 guide, which is around 14 percent of all producers listed worldwide – from a peninsula that is smaller than Vorarlberg. The microclimate between the Mediterranean and the continent, old indigenous varieties, and very early harvest are the reasons Flos Olei cites.
Does the score apply to every bottle from the producer?
No. Flos Olei evaluates the producer as a whole. The 99 points for Ipša apply to the farm, not separately to Leccino, Frantoio, and Selekcija. This is important when a retailer advertises "99-point oil".
Can I also buy the other oils from the list?
Most sell directly from the farm and through Croatian retailers. Mate and Olea B.B. are now also available from German importers. We deliberately only carry producers with whom we have a personal relationship and whose oil we pick up ourselves – that is why four instead of nineteen.
