The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance the value of the taster's role and strengthen their function as guarantors of extra virgin olive oil quality. Furthermore, it seeks to attract new professionals and foster continuous training in this specialized discipline, crucial for certifying the category of a key product for the region's agricultural economy.
The competition will feature two categories: one for accredited experts and another for amateurs, each with specific requirements detailed in the official announcement. Applications will be accepted for one month following publication in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid. The aim is to establish a diverse panel of tasters, including professionals from research institutes, oil mills, cooperatives, producers, and the general public.
The expert category will accommodate up to 40 participants who will conduct blind tastings of various samples over two days. The top three tasters in this category will compete for cash prizes of 8,000, 4,000, and 2,000 euros. The amateur category will follow a similar procedure but will take place solely on the 25th, with a maximum of 40 participants and prizes of 500, 300, and 200 euros.
The judging panel will comprise experts from IMIDRA, the Tasting Panel of the Community of Madrid, members of the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) Aceite de Madrid, and professionals from the Directorate General of Consumption. Winners will be selected based on the overall evaluation of the tests and accuracy.
The competitions will be held at the El Encín research center, home to the region's Official Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tasting Panel. This panel, consisting of 16 specialists, conducts over 300 tastings annually for the olive oil sector, endorsing the quality of oils from Madrid and other regions.
