Wednesday

August 21

10.00am-10.15am

Welcome to Savantes – Simon Field

10.15am-11.00am

Alphabet of Aroma

Participants ‘switch on’ with an exercise involving the description of a range of aromas associated with extra virgin olive oils.

11.00am-12.00pm

Discussion on Olive Oil Markets around the World

An update and forum on olive oil market trends around the world

12.00pm-1.00pm

Taste and Flavour

Explaining the Savantes tasting format and refreshing how we taste, describe flavours and develop a taste vocabulary

1.00pm-2.00pm

Lunch

2.00pm-3.00pm

Discussion on International Quality Standards and Defects in Olive Oil

An overview and update on the ever changing international and national quality specifications. Practice in tasting different grades of olive oil and detecting defects

3.00pm-4.00pm

Tasting the Range of Styles of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Market

Introducing the main styles of extra virgin olive oil from different regions – delicate to robust

4.00pm-4.30pm

Refreshments

4.30pm-5.30pm

Exploring the Many Specific Flavour Characteristics of Extra Virgin Olive Oils

Exploring the range of flavours found in extra virgin olive oils from around the world

Thursday

August 22

9.30am-10.30am

Variation in Varietals

Tasting extra virgin olive oils from the same variety grown in different regions round the world

11.30am-11.00am

Economics and Blending

How blending is used to achieve particular flavours and price points

11.00am-1.00pm

Blending for a Market - Group Work

Working in groups, participants blend an extra virgin olive oil to meet their own market brief covering style, flavour and price point. The blended oils are tasted by the class determine whether they meet the briefs

1.00pm-2.00pm

Lunch

2.00pm-3.30pm

Discussion on the culinary and health selling points of extra virgin olive oil

Comparing the physical cooking characteristics and health benefits of olive oils with other vegetable oils

3.30pm-4.00pm

Refreshments

4.00pm-5.30pm

Analysing The Varietals in a Blend by Taste - Group Work

Working in groups, participants try to determine by taste the proportion of varietals in a blended extra virgin olive oil and then reproduce the blend.

Friday

August 23, including Refresher day for Professional Tasters

9.30am-10.30am

Tasting Participants’ Blends from Day 2

The class judges how close the groups have come to reproducing the blend from the last session on Day 2

10.30am-11.30am

Testing Your Skills as a Taster

Introducing a series of exercises which can be done to practice and improve tasting skills – optional evaluation for status of Savante

11.30am-11.45am

Test Results Returned

11.45am-1.00pm

Tasting Olive Oils from Around the World

A tour of the main olive oil producing regions round the world, tasting classic extra virgin olive oils from each region

1.00pm-2.00pm

Lunch

2.00pm-3.00pm

Judging for Competitions and Tasting International Award Winners

Presenting for tasting extra virgin olive oils judged to be the best from around the world

3.00pm-5.00pm

Tasting Savante Participant’s Own

Olive oils brought by participants are evaluated by the class

Presentation of Certificates for Savantes completing the Course – Simon Field