2025 SA Olive Awards & Judging Panel

Müge Nebioğlu – International Judge and Panel Leader

Born in Eskişehir in 1981, Müge Nebioğlu is a highly respected Food Engineer focusing on oils and fats, holding a PhD from Egean University. Since 2007, she has played a leading role at Turkey’s Ministry of Food, Feed and Livestock, heading sensory analysis laboratories and directing key national and international research projects on olive oil quality. As a Master Inspector for the Association of Turkish Accreditation, Müge oversees laboratory accreditations and serves as a trainer for the Ministry. Her extensive international experience includes judging and moderating prestigious olive oil competitions worldwide, as well as consulting for top industry players, including Michelin-star chefs. Married with three children, she blends deep technical expertise with a passionate commitment to advancing global olive oil standards.

Reni Hildenbrand

One of South Africa’s most decorated and experienced olive oil judges, Reni has dedicated more than two decades to the craft. A producer herself, she has played a pivotal role in the SA Olive Industry Association since 1992 and holds advanced tasting and panel leader qualifications from Italy’s O.N.A.O.O. institute. As a cornerstone of the SA Olive CTC tasting panel for 13 years, she has judged every SA Olive Awards and ABSA Top 10 competition since their inception. Reni’s international judging experience spans countries including Italy, Japan, Turkey, Peru, and New Zealand, and Tunisia, she has contributed to multiple SOL D’ORO Southern Hemisphere events. Currently, she is writing a definitive book on South African olives and olive oil, further solidifying her role as a thought leader in the industry.

Gerrie Duvenage

Widely regarded as a pioneer of olive oil tasting in South Africa, Gerrie Duvenage played a crucial role in facilitating the country’s very first tasting courses in 2000 alongside renowned expert Dr Luciano Scarselli. He further honed his skills at ONAOO in Italy, completing both taster and panel leader training. Since 2005, Gerrie has served as panel leader for the official SA Olive Oil Tasting Panel, consistently championing high standards and contributing significantly to the industry’s growth. His passion for education and quality has made him an invaluable mentor and respected authority within South Africa’s EVOO community.

Benedetta Lami

Benedetta has been a professional olive oil taster since 2007, trained in the I.O.O.C. method under Dr. Luciano Scarselli, and passed the Physiological Suitability Test in 2009. A key member of the official SA Olive Panel since then, she has judged numerous competitions including the SA Olive Awards, ABSA Top 5 and Top 10, Aurora, Sol d’Oro events in South Africa and Australia and Peru and Carthage IOOC in Tunisia. She planned  organised and judged  the Marco Zichella Award in memory of her father from 2002 to 2016. In 2018, she became an Associate of the prestigious Register of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes, achieving silver status in 2019 and captaining the South African team at the Savantes Tasting Championship. Benedetta also conducts EVOO tasting and appreciation courses in both South Africa and Italy.

Gill Lanham

A passionate Extra Virgin Olive Oil taster, Gill’s tasting experience started in 2019. Since then, her love for EVOO grew and 2021 saw her enrol in an introductory Olive Oil Tasting Course conducted by Aldo Mazzini. After this course, she was invited to join the prestigious SA Olive Oil tasting panel as a guest taster which further allowed her to hone her expertise. In 2022, she enrolled in the Advanced Course in Olive Oil Tasting, and at the beginning of 2023, Gill was appointed as an official taster on the SA Olive Oil Panel. She was invited to be a member of the judging panel for the 2023 and 2024 SA Olive awards.

Marelie Erasmus

Bringing a strong compliance and regulatory perspective to the panel, Marelie complements her refined tasting expertise with extensive knowledge of commercial requirements, labelling, chemical standards, and export compliance. She has completed thorough training across all levels of Extra Virgin Olive Oil evaluation and is a valued member of the CTC tasting panel. Marelie’s role ensures that both product quality and regulatory adherence meet the highest standards. Her regular participation in tastings keeps her finely attuned to sensory excellence and evolving market expectations. Marelie represents a vital bridge between product excellence and global trade readiness.

Mare Groenewald

A long-serving member of the SA Olive tasting community, Mare joined the CTC panel in 2017 and has maintained her expertise through ongoing training from beginner to experienced levels. She actively participates in monthly development sessions to uphold the highest standards of evaluation. Mare’s broad understanding of the olive industry spans organoleptic evaluation, technical specifications, and farming operations. Having judged multiple SA Olive Awards and topped the ONAOO assessment panel in 2020, her multifaceted experience and technical insight are key to the integrity and consistency of the judging process.

Theresa Louw

Theresa brings scientific precision to olive oil evaluation through her role as manager and co-owner of Wynland Analytical Laboratory. Since 2003, she has worked extensively with wine, juice, and olive oil analysis and is a regular taster for SA Olive’s CTC certification panel. She has participated in advanced international tasting courses, including training by Aldo Mazzini and Dr. Antonio Lauro. Theresa’s judging experience includes the SA Olive Awards and ABSA Top 10 competitions, where she applies a meticulous and analytical approach to sensory assessment. Her work is essential in bridging the gap between sensory science and artisanal production.