LUX Food & Drink Awards 2016

LUX - Food & Drink Awards 2016 15 Olive Oil Experts of the Year - Australia For 16 years Olive Business through its subsidiary Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes, has brought together the world’s best extra virgin olive oils for tasting, initially in Australia and now all over the world – UK, USA, Italy, Spain, South Africa and New Zealand. In addition to evaluating flavours, the three-day programme covers the olive oil market, quality regulations, culinary uses, health benefits and competitions. The knowledge and tasting skill of participants are tested through a series of exercises covering varietal identification, defects, intensity rankings and comparative flavours. Those achieving 60% are awarded Associate Savante and those scoring over 80% are granted Savante status. Participants range from small and large producers, multi-nationals, small and large retailers, distributors, administrators, food media, and chefs. Olive Oil Experts of the Year - Australia In 1997 Olive Business planted an olive grove, with the aim of producing extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality. We explore this legacy of olive oil production and how it has led to an international olive oil appreciation movement. Company: Salsi Pty Ltd trading as Olive Business and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes Name: Simon Field Email: simon@ olivebusiness.com Website: www.savantes.com FO160003 Recent developments include co-organising National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Team Tasting Championships in the USA and Spain. Negotiations are well underway with Canada, France, Italy, Greece and Jordan to hold national championships and send teams to compete in the World Team Tasting Championship in Spain in 2018. In addition, Savantes co-organises the annual Olive Oil Conference in the USA with the aim of encouraging greater use of healthy olive oil over other vegetable oils. To spread the use of the healthy extra virgin olive oil in food, Savantes has teamed up with the English chefs Olly Rouse and Joe Gould to launch ‘Savantes and The Cuisiniers’ in the UK in early June 2017. This initiative will be conducted at a cooking school and over 2 days will cover both flavour and use in traditional and modern cuisine. A skills test will also be introduced to certify ‘Culinary Savantes’. Olive Business does not accept sponsorship or any government or institutional funds. It is funded entirely by registration fees for its programmes and events. It selects the extra virgin olive oils on merit by scanning the competition winners in all growing regions, and invites producers to send them for evaluation. Savantes does not promote any brand or recommend any products. This independence and objectivity has earned the respect and trust of olive oil producers, distributors and users worldwide. Ultimately, through its tasting programmes and championships Savantes gives young participants the opportunity to have their skills recognised, assisting in career advancement and the introduction of fresh ideas into a very traditional industry. Savantes also fosters mutual respect for the products of different regions and countries. Fermin Rodriguez becomes the first Savante in Priego de Cordoba, Spain (left to right, Simon Field (Savantes), Fermin Rodriguez, Francisca ‘Paqui’ Garcia (Secretary General PDO Priego de Cordoba) and María Luisa Ceballos, Mayor of Priego de Cordoba.)