Oils and Balsamics Manager
Thanks to the ONAOO course, a door opened for me that allows entry into the world of olive oil.
I would like to collaborate more actively with ONAOO.
Aldo holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Genoa and a Master of Science in Communication and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) with certification from Dr. Richard Bandler’s NLP Society.
He has been professionally engaged in the fields of oil and quality for two decades.
In 2023 and 2024, he was included in the official list of the 110 Panel Leaders recognized by the International Olive Council (C.O.I.). Additionally, he has served as a MASAF Panel Leader in Italy since 2023, directing the Federolio 4 Panel.
He has professional experience in the industry as a master blender and quality control specialist, having worked with leading companies in Italy and abroad, including DEOLEO/CARAPELLI, SUGAT Industries LTD group, and others.
He has been a professional taster for the ONAOO since 2000, when he was included in the Panel of the CCIAA of Imperia for the certification of PDO oils. He was awarded the prestigious first prize in the National Competition organized by ONAOO, “The Taster of the Year,” and he was subsequently awarded the absolute title again in 2021.
Since 2016, he has been the driving force behind the Monte Carlo Masters of Olive Oil International Competition (MOOOIC). He has also served as a judge and panel head in numerous national and international competitions in Italy, Turkey, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and South Africa.
Over the years, he has participated as a guest lecturer and lecturer in public, corporate, and university conferences in different countries, including Italy, Israel, South Africa, Turkey, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and others. In 2023, he published his first popular book, entitled “EVOO 99+1 Questions to Really Know Olive Oil.”
He provides business consulting and training services, organizing courses for individuals and companies in Italy and abroad in Italian and English.
Leonidas Komvokis is a resident and business owner in Drama, East Macedonia and Thrace.
He is an agricultural and olive entrepreneur. He is an olive pruner and has participated in several professional olive pruning courses organized by the A.S.S.A.M. School (Marche). In 2016, Leonidas became a member of ONAOO, where he began his training. In January 2020, he completed his studies by obtaining the Professional Taster Qualification.
Leonidas believes that a deep understanding of the elements of olive oil quality is an effective way forward in the field of olive growing and entrepreneurship. He provides olive oil quality consulting services as well as olive tree pruning and management services on a contract basis. In recent years, the company has focused on developing a project with the planting of 20 hectares of organic olive trees and varieties exclusively indigenous to the area.
The goal is to highlight these varieties and create monovarietal oils of unique quality, showcasing the quality characteristics of the area and the POLYCONIC VASE-shaped management model that can guarantee the highest quality of olive oil. Quality is a core value that guides our commitment to the environment, consumers, and the reputation of our organization, which is represented by the ONAOO.
Since 2020, she has been cultivating an olive grove in Puglia using entirely natural methods.
Using the expertise she has learned from local farmers and consolidated through her training at O.N.A.O.O., she covers the entire production chain — from land maintenance and pruning to harvesting, pressing, packaging and exporting — all carried out according to best practices.
In Switzerland, she offers her professional expertise to innovative companies in the olive oil industry, organises tastings and workshops.
She is involved in the fight against Xylella, a devastating disease affecting olive trees (https://www.tvsvizzera.it/tvs/qui-italia/quegli-svizzeri-e-quelle-svizzere-impegnati-nella-lotta-contro-la-xylella/78291581).
Hilda is a certified Professional Olive Oil Taster since 2017 and a student with ONAOO since 2014.
She is a passionate home cook and baker always looking for new ways to use extra virgin olive oil in her kitchen.
She has published a Mediterranean cookbook, is a distributor of Olive oil (evirginoliveoils.com), has a food blog with lots of recipes (iwanttocookthat.com) and a YouTube channel (@iwanttocookthat3059).
I work in an Italian supermarket in Denmark, and for the past 20 years I have mainly focused on oils and balsamics. This has also allowed me to stay in contact with many producers in these sectors. I come from a family of olive oil producers, who from a young age instilled in me a passion, culture, and respect for this wonderful product.
My future projects include becoming an increasingly skilled and up-to-date olive oil taster, and possibly a Panel Leader here in Denmark.
Training as professional olive oil tasters is not only a personal pleasure: the universe that revolves around olive oil and its supply chain also offers a wide range of job, growth and specialization opportunities.
The advanced course allows you to consolidate and deepen your knowledge of oil tasting and obtain the qualification of ONAOO Professional Taster, but above all, to be included in the "International Register of Professional Tasters".
Participants learn about varieties, processing, and sensory tasting, with practical exercises under the guidance of experts.
Participants are invited to recognize strengths, weaknesses, qualities and organoleptic characteristics of the various oils