October 23 to 25
Buenos Aires City
Buenos Aires International Olive Oil Competition
TEAM
Lic. Juan Jose Soria
CEO & Founder
Food Technologist from UCCuyo (San Juan- Argentine), specialist in Food Quality Management, Applied Statistics (UNC -Córdoba- Argentine) and Food Logistics (UNTreF -Buenos Aires- Argentine). He advises producers of different sectors to achieve the best international standards in the food export market. He worked in the production of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in his professional beginnings to later dedicate himself to the communication of EVOOs in Argentina and Latin America. He created the Blog "Olivar Argentino" where he has visualized the importance of olive growing and the interaction of dedicated people in the olive market. Since he was young, he dreamed of holding an event that communicates the benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the City of Buenos Aires.
Ing. Agr. María Elina Buffa
Tasting Panel Director
María Elina Buffa is an Agronomist who graduated from the National University of La Plata (Argentina) and an International Expert in Virgin Olive Oil Tasting graduated from the University of Jaen (Spain). She has been working in olive growing and olive oil production for over 20 years, areas in which she is a consultant. Co-founder and director of the Escuela Latinoamericana de Cata (Latin American Tasting School), focused on educating about olive oil culture and quality and where she teaches olive oil tasting classes. She was a taster of the Catholic University of Cuyo Olive Oil Sensory Panel (IOC recognized) for over 15 years. She has been a judge in different international olive oil competitions, such as the 1º Concurso de azeites de oliva (Brazil), Los Angeles Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition (USA), Olive Japan Competition (Japan), ArgOliva (Argentina), Olivinus (Argentina). She is the oleologist of her own olive oil brand, Trilogía, the first Argentinian Extra Virgin Olive Oil included in the Top Ten ranking of the World´s best olive oils (2019-20). She has led several tasting sessions and given presentations about olive oil, both in national (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza) and international places (USA, Japan, Chile) She has joined the “Women in Olive Oil” Network since its creation in 2020.
Ing. Agr. Daniela Hebilla
Tasting Panel Director
Agronomist, graduated from the National University of Cuyo (Mendoza - Argentina). She also studied at Enrique Tittarelli`s Tasting School, where she graduated as an olive oil taster and olive oil maker. She focuses on olive oil tasting for over 16 years, and she has also been working as a consultant in olive growing and olive oil production since she graduated. She is co-founder and director of the Escuela Latinoamericana de Cata (Latin American Tasting School), which was born to promote olive oil consumption. She shares her passion for olives and olive oil culture through the courses she teaches. She also leads tasting sessions. Nowadays, she works as an olive growing advisor at Cinta Verde SA, and also she is the quality responsible at Olivícola Pedernal SA, an olive oil mill company. She was a taster at the National University of Cuyo Tasting Panel in Mendoza (recognized by IOC) for over six years. When she moved to San Juan, where she lives, she joined the Catholic University of Cuyo Tasting Panel (recognized by IOC) for over three years. She has been a judge in different international olive oil competitions, such as Olivinus (Argentina), Terraolivo (Israel) y ArgOliva (Argentina).
Som. María Elena Puerta
Assistant Director - Tasting Panel
Sommelier, specialized in Olive Oil. Diploma in Wine and Olive Tourism. Diploma in Ceremonial and Protocol. Co-Director of the "Argentine Tasting Panel" and sensory trainer of "Mantegini Sommeliers" in Technical Tastings of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Co-host of the Radio Program “About Gustos there is nothing written”, Radio Jornada (Mendoza - Argentina). She carries out permanent training in workshops, conferences and tastings of wines and extra virgin olive oil.
Sebastian Villar
Comunication & MKT
Degree in Communication Sciences. Consultant in business communication, 25 years of experience. Director of BLUECOM developing and implementing communication and public relations plans for more than 50 companies during the last 20 years. Constant update on new trends and marketing and communication technology.
Gustavo Precedo
Assistant Director - Tasting Panel
Specialist in sensory evaluation of wines and food, teacher in prestigious educational institutions such as Universidad de Buenos Aires and Escuela de Cocina Gato Dumas. Specialist in Ceremonial and Protocol.
Sebastian Villar
Comunication & MKT
Degree in Communication Sciences. Consultant in business communication, 25 years of experience. Director of BLUECOM developing and implementing communication and public relations plans for more than 50 companies during the last 20 years. Constant update on new trends and marketing and communication technology.