The 2022 SA Olive Awards are being held on Thursday, 8th September 2022 at the picturesque Laborie Wine Estate in Paarl. This annual event, now in its 17th year, acknowledges the commitment and pursuit of quality by South African Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) producers.
The judging of all EVOO entries will be done between the 22nd and 26th of August by the SA Olive panel of judges, all of whom are experts within the olive oil industry:
Aldo Mazzini (Panel Leader)
Residing in Imperia, Italy, Dr. Aldo Mazzini is a dedicated and whole-hearted olive oil expert. Over the years, Aldo has shared his knowledge, appreciation and passion about the industry at numerous events across the globe.
Other than being our Panel Leader at the 2022 SA Olive Awards, Aldo has served as a judge at various national and international olive oil competitions, including the London, Berlin and Amsterdam IOOCs and Zeitindostu OOC-IZMIR. Aldo has been an official member of the ONAOO Panel since 2000, won the “Taster of the Year” in 2000 and 2001, graduated as Panel Leader at the Florence Chamber of Commerce in 2009 and been an active member of ONAOO’s International Register of Professional Tasters since 2016.
Aldo is always keen to impart some professional knowledge about the industry, and while he is here, he will giving two courses at the Klein Joostenberg Conference Venue:
Basic EVOO tasting on 29 August – Booking form download
Advanced EVOO tasting on 30 August – Booking form download
Booking for these courses is essential. Please email info@saolive.co.za for more information.
Pablo Canamasas
Gracing our shores all the way from Argentina, and on his third visit to South Africa, SA Olive welcomes Pablo Canamasas to our international judging panel for 2022. With 25 years’ experience in the olive oil industry, Pablo currently provides consultancy services for various private companies and olive associations across the globe.
After graduating in Argentina, and specialising in olive oil production and oil quality, Pablo attained a post-graduate degree in oil production and table olives in Jaen, Spain. Since then, he has honed his skills in modern olive oil extraction techniques, olive processing, oil blending and quality control.
Pablo is respected worldwide and is a regular key speaker on olive oil at processing courses, conferences and seminars around the world. While in South Africa, Pablo will be doing two courses at the Klein Joostenberg Conference Venue:
Quality and shelf-life aspects in EVOO on 27 August – Booking form download
New technologies for EVOO processing on 27 August – Booking form download
Booking for these courses is essential. Please email info@saolive.co.za for more information.
Franco Pasquini
On his first trip to South Africa, Dr. Franco Pasquini joins SA Olive’s judging panel as its third international judge. Also residing in Italy, Franco has been an accredited Extra Virgin Olive Oil taster since 1995, an International Olive Council (IOC) Panel Leader since 1997, and is the President of ANAPOO (National Association of Olive Oil Professional Tasters) where he leads one of the four panels of ANAPOO. These panels are recognised by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural Policies.
Franco has participated as a judge in several international olive oil competitions, including Athena International Olive Oil Competition, Biol, Ercole Olivario, Harmony, Tokyo International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. Since 2013, he has been the Panel Leader of the “Il Magnifico” International Olive Oil Competition held in Florence and has organized and directed numerous official courses for tasters in accordance with IOC / EU regulations in various parts of Italy.
Franco is eagerly looking forward to sharing his passion for EVOO and tasting experience with SA Olive’s tasters and members.
All 2022 SA Olive Award winners will be announced on Thursday, 8th September 2022.
