QUALITYolive oil competition

IRINI KOKOLAKI

Irini Kokolaki is an expert virgin olive oil taster, diplomated by the University of Jaen in Spain, certified by the International Olive Oil Council (COI), based in Madrid, Spain. She has attended the course on Panel leaders of virgin olive oil tasters at the national centre of Agriculture Capacity of San Fernando de Henares in Madrid, organized by the Ministry of Spanish Agriculture, and several seminars and courses in Greece, Italy and Spain in the sensory analysis of virgin olive oil, also.    Her passion and love for the olive oil sector lead her to participate as a judge at several International Olive Oil Competitions in the world and to become a member of the Italian women's organization “Pandolea” olive oil friends. With her knowledge and abilities she guides and advises producers and mills to produce extra virgin olive oil under the company "Elia Quality Group". She speaks Greek, English, French, Spanish and Italian.

DAVID NEUMAN

David Neuman has 30 years of specialty and organic executive food management experience in the competitive USA market. The last 15 years devoted to olive oil at the highest quality. Opened his consulting business, EVOOGuy.com and crated his brand of tasting and selling premium olive oil via his mobile Olive Oil truck- where you can find him at food and wine events in Florida. David is an O.N.A.O.O Professional Level 2 Olive Oil taster and attended this famed school in Imperia Italy since 2011 to present.

CHANIA CHAGAS

Chania Chagas, Entrepreneur. She is Expert in Olive Oil Tasting with more than 6 years of experience in the sector. Owner of an Olive Oil Importer and Distributor Company in Brazil and the first olive oil boutique store – Empório do Azeite

PANAGIOTIS PAPANIKOLOPOULOS

Panagiotis Papanikolopoulos a.k.a. Gastronaftis studied Business Administration but after being a project manager for E.U. programmes and a kitchen furniture designer, he put aside everything for gastronomy, his life-time passion. Being a co-founder of Oliverse.gr, he organizes and gives EVOO & food pairing seminars all over Greece, three years and counting. He is a gastronomic consultant for several food companies, with acknowledged expertise in pairing foods with different olive oil varieties, that he has been dedicated to showcase. He is a certified olive oil taster, active member of an IOC recognized sensory laboratory. His moto is… “Extra virgin olive oil is an exceptional condiment, all by itself”

ALEXIS KERNER

Alexis Kerner, born in Philadelphia, is an expert olive oil taster who has resided in Seville, Spain for almost 20 years. She received her undergrad in Environmental Science from Connecticut College and her title as Expert Olive Oil Taster from the International Olive Council and the University of Jaen in Spain. She also has trained under top Spanish olive oil tasters, Brígida Jiménez and María Paz Aguilera. Every spring, Alexis serves on the international juries for the Ovibeja International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition of Portugal and Terra Olivo in Jerusalem. She has also been recognized as a member of the Associate Savante Registry that demonstrates tasting skill. In 2014, she founded The Olive Oil Workshop, a company that strives to educate buyers at all levels as well as producers of virgin olive oils in order to empower consumers, promote good olive oil, and support producers in a difficult market.

WILMA VAN GRINSVEN – PADBERG

My name is Wilma van Grinsven – Padberg, Dutch, and involved in the olive oil sector since 2007. The moment I learned tasting the passion was born. I finalized the ONAOO school in Italy as an International Professional Taster is 2018 and a year before I did the olive oil sommelier course at the Culinary Center in New York. That was the moment I started to write a book about olive oil and it’s published in four languages: Dutch (of course), German, French and English. Now a days I’m busy giving workshops to consumers but also groups dietitians, people who work in the health sector but I prefer most to give my knowledge to chefs and students chefs. There is still a lack of knowledge to work on.

LISETE OSORIO

International wine and olive oil expert . Wine and olive oil producer- Member FIJEV

ALFREDO MARASCIULO

Alfredo Marasciulo, Expert taster and panel leader of tasting committees of the University of Bari and of the Italian Consortium for Organic Products (CIBI), both recognized by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. He collaborates with numerous international competitions and is the Panel Leader of some of the most prestigious competitions held in Italy including the Biol Prize for several years and the Ercole Olivario for the 2021-2022 period. Consultant for the quality improvement of many farms and oil mills.

ANITA ZACHOU

Anita Zachou from Greece is an agricultural engineer, professional olive oil taster, technical consultant of olive oil production, gastronomic educator of culinary professionals, holistic wellness coach, writer & trainer. She became a professional Olive Oil Taster in 2012. Later on, she was granted a scholarship by the International Olive Council to attend the olive oil tasting course at the University of Jaen in Spain, from which she holds the title of Expert in Virgin Olive Oil Tasting. She is the founder of Mykonos Olive Oil Tasting, an educational company based in Mykonos island in Greece, delivering seminars & workshops on Olive Oil Tasting, Mediterranean Diet, Holistic Health & Wellness to visitors but also consumers, kids and culinary professionals. She is an Ordinary Member of ONAOO.