Wednesday

September 5th

9.00am-9.15am

Welcome to Savantes – Simon Field

9.15am-10.00am

Alphabet of Aroma

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

10.00am-10.45am

Discussion on Olive Oil Markets around the World

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

10.45am-11.00am

Break

11.00am-11.30am

Taste and Flavour

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

11.30am-12.15pm

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

12.15pm-1.00pm

Lunch

1.00pm-2.00pm

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

2.00pm-3.00pm

Healthy, Wellthy and Wise – Linda Costa

Nutritional, health and culinary characteristics of extra virgin olive oil

3.00pm-3.15pm

Break

3.15pm-4.15pm

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

4.15pm-5.00pm

Judging for Competitions and Tasting International Award Winners

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

Thursday

September 6th

9.00am-10.00am

Variation in Varietals

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

10.00am-10.30am

Economics and Blending

How blending is used to achieve particular flavours and price points

10.30am-10.45am

Break

10.45am-12.00pm

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 to determine whether they meet the briefs

12.00pm-1.00pm

Lunch

1.00pm-2.30pm

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.

2.30pm-2.45pm

Break

2.45pm-3.45pm

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

3.45pm-4.45pm

Tasting Savante Participant’s Own Olive Oils

Olive oils brought by participants are evaluated by the class

Presentation of Certificates for Savantes completing the Course – Simon Field

Friday

September 7th

Savantes Review and Recognition

Session 1

9.00am-9.15am

9.15am-10.45am

11.00am

Briefing

Intensity Ranking, Rancidity Ranking, Defects, Variety identification, Triangle Tests

Results announced

Session 2

12.00pm-12.15pm

12.15pm-1.45pm

2.00pm

Briefing

Intensity Ranking, Rancidity Ranking, Defects, Variety identification, Triangle Tests

Results announced

In the event that Sessions 1 and 2 are fully booked a third session will be introduced in the late afternoon.

Total possible score in Review 30 points

Prescribed scores for Certification – Associate Savante 18-23/30, Savante 24+/30