Elise lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. After a three-year educational path, from 2018 Elise is an ONAOO Professional Taster. Her passion for olive oil began in 2011 during an investigation into the quality of olive oil in local supermarkets. Her research resulted in a question: is the olive oil found on the shelves really extra virgin? Elise is also a traveller, gourmet and self-taught cook; loves to educate others on how to find superior quality extra virgin olive oils, especially in regions where traditional olive oil is not produced.
Since September 1995, date of my birth, I’ve been always in the olive mill of my family: first as incredulous and unconscious viewer, then as assigned to the snack time based on bread and olive oil. Besides following the production, now I also manage the commercial area. I do represent the fifth generation in our family-run mill in Taggia on the edge of steeply Valle Argentina, land of Taggiasca olive.
Massimo Epifani is a doctor of agriculture.
He works as a lecturer and consultant. He was born professionally at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Perugia, specializing in planning toward innovation and development of the agribusiness sector. He participates as an expert in television programs such as Linea Verde (RAI-TV).
His latest works include scientific contributions to the Enogastronomic Guide “Lungo le vie dell’Evo” (Michelin editions) and the book “La Via dell’Olio” (Edizioni Alinari), which he authored.
He is a lecturer at the University for Foreigners of Perugia and teaches Master’s degrees on the popularization and valorization of extra virgin olive oil. He is also the creator of the Bicolio, a practical tasting glass that is disposable and compostable.
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).
Marina has a degree in Food Preparation Sciences. She is currently the Quality Manager at the “Oleificio Pietro Coricelli S.p.A.”.
Marina deals with quality certifications, contacts with customers and consumers. It also deals with the surveillance of the quality of products and processes, the control of incoming oils from a sensorial point of view. She was also Head of Quality Assurance at “Carapelli Firenze” and Quality Manager of “Agnesi Spa” for the production of pasta in the Danone group. Marina has been an ONAOO Professional Taster since 2001.
Marina was the winner in 2015 of “THE GREAT CHALLENGE – THE WORLDWIDE OLIVE OIL TASTERS’ CHALLENGE” at the Milan EXPO. She regularly attends refresher courses organized by ONAOO of which she has also become a member of the Council in 2019.
Elise lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. After a three-year educational path, from 2018 Elise is an ONAOO Professional Taster. Her passion for olive oil began in 2011 during an investigation into the quality of olive oil in local supermarkets. Her research resulted in a question: is the olive oil found on the shelves really extra virgin? Elise is also a traveller, gourmet and self-taught cook; loves to educate others on how to find superior quality extra virgin olive oils, especially in regions where traditional olive oil is not produced.
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