Sandro Marques is a lecturer on Food Studies and author of several books, including “The Guide to Brazilian Olive Oil”, in its third edition.

As an olive oil taster and writer, Sandro helps olive oil producers develop their storytelling and brand narrative.

He worked as an apprentice at several starred restaurants in Brazil and since 2010 has been a judge at the most important Brazilian food and culinary awards. In 2018 his book “Desserts for Princesses” was chosen by the Brazilian Federal Education Bureau to be distributed nationwide because of its educational content.

He also wrote “What do the astronauts eat?”, a children’s book celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Mission. Sandro Marques is an international speaker and a judge at several olive oil competitions. In 2016 he became Member of ONAOO where he also started his educational path.

In 2020 he concluded his studies by obtaining the Qualification of ONAOO Professional Taster.

I completed my training in O.N.A.O.O. in 2018. Through my work as purchasing director of Mediterranean products, I was also responsible for the olive oil category. Being Dutch, I knew very little about it and luckily I found the training in Imperia and I can safely say it changed my life.

After 12 years I quit my job as purchasing director and continued in the world of olive oil. By now I had also done the Sommelier training in New York as well as the Master Miller training in Jaen, Enough baggage to ask the Ministry to nominate me as a panel leader at the European Union.

In between, I wrote the book “Olive Oil” and this has been translated into English, French and German and still my book brings olive oil lovers the idea to follow in my footsteps and we will meet again in Imperia. O.N.A.O.O. is one big family! Meanwhile, I founded the Olive Oil Institute and the Netherlands has an IOC certified panel consisting of 15 panel members, most of them trained by O.N.A.O.O.

In addition to a panel, the Olive Oil Institute has an electronic nose so that tests can be done not only subjectively but also objectively.

Several universities are also looking for such a method and we expect that this combination will improve quality overall. However, the panel will always exist because how good is good or how bad is bad, that remains a human judgment.

A degree in Economics and Banking, a Masters in Family Mediation, 20 years of work in a banking institution were not enough to forget his ambitions which prominently pushed him to start a new life path in 2016.

His origins were firmly planted in the family olive grove of upper Tuscia (Viterbo area, in general upper Lazio).

Since he was a child, that place represented entertainment, celebration and conviviality in the moments of harvesting and producing oil. Over the years, he began a new adventure with the aim to emulating his Etruscan ancestors, the first true ambassadors of the culture of outstanding quality.

He followed his training mainly through the big family of ONAOO and in March 2022 he obtained the certificate as Professional Taster.

He has been living in Bavaria for three years, where he conducts an activity both of consulting to specialized retailers and restaurateurs and of importing and selling of high quality extra virgin olive oils.

Roberto Selvi, catering professional since 2003, he defined himself as a Liquid Master: leitmotif of his job is the excellence in a liquid form! Mixologist and Bar Manager, wine connoisseur and maître, in 2019 he got passionate about the Extra-virgin’s world and in 2023 became a Professional Taster of ONAOO.

His mission is the one to promote the culture of EVOO through the catering sector.