Olio Capitale: the main route for extra virgin oil

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Olio Capitale, to be held from 18th to 21st March in Trieste, Italy, is much more than a mere trade fair. It is a meeting place and a forum of debate for the various protagonists of the world of olive trees and olive oil, experts of international renown debating the most topical subjects and showing the route that extra virgin olive oil is to follow.

The three talk shows included in the Olio Capitale cultural events will tackle topics such as the olive oil market, production costs and prices, as well as the origin, terroir, enhancement and differentiation of this product.

A tribute will naturally be paid to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and the strong link between this country and the olive tree, a crop and a culture which is widespread throughout Italy, from North to South, islands included.

A precious asset that will be showcased during the event by two hundred producers who will offer their products for tasting. Italy will be the protagonist, of course, but the Mediterranean Sea will also play a role. Spain, Croatia, Slovenia and, for the first time, Portugal will also be present.

Altogether, the countries participating in Olio Capitale account for 75% of the world olive-growing sector. Spain leads with a production estimated at 1.3 million tons in the 2010/2011 campaign, and is followed by emerging producers such as Portugal itself, which has doubled its production in twenty years, thereby reaching its present 68 thousand tons, with the objective of producing as many as 110-120 thousand tons in three years' time. Mention should also be made of the 1600 olive-growing hectares of Slovenia and the 6000 tons produced by Croatia, which has joined the élite of European producers just like France.

Nevertheless, it is Italy that has the lion's share, with its one thousand varieties, its biodiversity and the olive-growing regions represented here: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Campania. Not just geographical areas of production, however, but also varieties, such as Gentile of Larino, Frantoio, Moraiolo, Ravece, Nocellara, Bosana, which will all be available to the chefs who will take turns in the cooking area where visitors will enjoy recipes based on this precious olive juice. Food and oil pairing will have centre stage in enjoyable debates between chefs and experts.

Of course, Olio Capitale does not forget its original and fundamental vocation, i.e. being a commercial event and a business opportunity for exhibitors. Buyers will arrive from 15 different countries and business-to-business meetings have already been organised through the match-making system, by efficiently meeting the requirements of both demand and supply.

The Grand Finale will take place on Monday, 21st March. In the morning, the winners of the 5th International Olio Capitale Competition will be proclaimed, selected among the 260 participating labels. There will be three absolute winners, for the light intensity, medium intensity and intense intensity categories, and mentions of honour will also be awarded by three juries (consumers', restaurateurs', experts'), which will alternate in the evaluation of finalists during the event itself.

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