Discovery
By The Gilbert & Gaillard team, posted on 19 November 2025
From Italy to Greece, from traditional mills to the most innovative estates, every olive oil tells a story. With its very first International Olive Oil Challenge, Gilbert & Gaillard shines a light on this living heritage and celebrates the men and women who craft olive oil with passion. An event that honors tradition, showcases terroir, and opens the doors to global recognition.
For more than 35 years, Gilbert & Gaillard has celebrated the taste and uniqueness of terroirs. After the vineyards, our focus now turns toward another age-old world: olive oils. From the northern to the southern hemisphere, they are shaped by tradition and precision, telling the story of each variety, each region, each mill.
The 1st edition of the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge – Extra Virgin & Flavoured Olive Oils honours this millennia-old savoir-faire.
Olive oil is more than a condiment: it embodies a culture, an identity, and sometimes a family legacy. From Italy to Greece, each olive tree reflects the bond between people and their land. Like wine, olive oil reveals the soil, the olive variety, the climate, the producer’s skill and the quality of the mill. Recognising this heritage is our mission; celebrating it is our ambition.
Thanks to our geographical presence in both hemispheres, we can offer two distinct sessions that align with each region’s production cycle.
Participating in the Challenge means enhancing the value of your oil and giving it true international recognition, at a time of year that genuinely reflects its production and its peak expression.
The Gilbert & Gaillard label is a benchmark for professionals and consumers alike, serving as a trusted seal of quality.
Tastings are carried out blind, in silence, with focused attention from the experts. Each oil is scored out of 100 points, based on three criteria:
• Balance (bitterness, pungency, fruitiness)
• Aromatic complexity (herbs, fruits, flowers…)
• Typicity (faithfulness to the variety and terroir)
Detailed and transparent notes provide producers with valuable feedback.
Our jury brings together olive-oil experts, chefs, journalists and producers, each contributing their expertise and perspective:
• Camille Costechareyre – expert at the International Olive Council
• Alexandra Paris – specialist in French olives
• Alberto Guasco – master producer in Liguria, supplier to top gastronomic venues
• Maria Elena Puerta Alaniz – olive oil sommelier in South America
• Caroline Gilbert – Certified by L’HOVE in virgin olive oil tasting techniques
This diversity ensures a rich and comprehensive evaluation.
Receiving a medal means clear and legitimate recognition — a guarantee of quality for both professionals and consumers — and a concrete commercial advantage. It opens doors to distributors, importers, specialised retailers and fine-dining establishments.
Award-winning oils are featured in the Gilbert & Gaillard Palmarès, promoted through our articles, newsletters and social networks, and visible in over 25 countries. Recognition continues throughout the year.
This edition brings olive oils the same level of care as fine wines: blind tasting, an international jury, a trusted label and worldwide visibility. The Challenge celebrates the nobility of olives and honours those who cultivate them with passion and dedication.
Discovery
Discovery
Discovery