If you read the last (very long) blog post, you would have noticed that the geek quotient was, ehm, very high. Lots of specific terms, technique and tasting jargon. It was my way of getting a little stress out while I waited for a letter…

Then, I got the letter.

After a nearly 6-year journey, Sylverleaf’s resident blendmaster has been selected to become a founding member of the University of California at Davis’ olive oil taste panel. The new taste panel is composed of a group of 20 of the most highly-trained olive oil experts in the United States. If you know what a Sommelier is, then that is what each of the panel members now is in the olive oil world.

To put a little more perspective on this nomination: More people have been to space than have this certification.

There are approximately 150 people in the entire world who have met the intense requirements set by the International Olive Council. Not only must a panel member meet these requirements, that panel member must also manage to maintain the high standards through constant training and testing. This taste panel will be the only internationally-accredited group in the United States, finally putting us on equal footing with our European counterparts.

Not to sound silly, but this is a HUGE step forward for the US olive oil industry. A real shift in the dynamic.

So, you might be asking, what does this taste panel do? In double- or triple-blind trials, we certify olive oils as extra virgin (or as not extra virgin). We look at the chemical testing results (see a previous blog post for more info), then sit down with the oil and rate it in a very controlled environment. After evaluating the IOC-mandated attributes (see previous blog), we go further and analyze more than 30 additional attributes. Our goal is to provide the olive oil producer with a very detailed and highly descriptive review of their olive oil. A review that could guide them to produce a better olive oil in the future.

I’m super excited to be working with my fellow taste panel members and helping everyone to make better olive oil!

As usual, if you have questions, send them over to blog@sylverleaf.com.