Olive Oil Tasters Converge on Sevilla and Modena to Try the Best

Participants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Italy will converge on Sevilla in Spain and Modena in Italy for the inaugural Savantes programmes in Europe at the end of May.

Founded in Australia in 2001, the annual Savantes programme conducts tutored tastings of olive oils and discusses the culinary uses and markets for this growing commodity. This is the first year the programmes are to be held in Europe. 

Simon Field of Olive Business, organizers of Savantes, said in Melbourne today,’ we are delighted with the response from all over the world. Enquiries are still flowing in and we expect bookings from more countries, especially from the Northern Hemisphere as travel arrangements are easier’.

‘Olive oil producers, traders and users are coming to experience some of the world’s best oils and to get the latest information on market trends. They also have the opportunity to establish valuable networks in the leading olive producing and importing countries’, he continued.

The courses are in English and in order to minimise regional bias the leading presenters of the tasting programme are recognised independent experts in the commercial uses of olive oil. The 2008 programme will be led by internationally recognised culinary and olive oil expert Judy Ridgway.

The selection of olive oils to be presented from all over the olive producing world has begun and it is expected that between 40 and 50 olive oils will be available for tasting. 

In contrast with many technical olive oil classification training programmes, the emphasis is on the commercial differentiation, taste and culinary uses of extra virgin olive oils.

To give a regional perspective in each of the locations, local experts will present some sessions. Sevilla is reputed to serve the best tapas in Spain and Modena is in Emilia-Romagna, the home of parma ham, parmesan cheese and aged balsamic vinegar. Both are steeped in the tradition and culture of olive oil.

For further information and booking go to www.savantes.com/savantes or

contact Simon Field on +61 3 9387 9919