Auckland grower Alex Twentyman has become the second olive oil taster to achieve Associate status in the International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes program. Alex, 23, participated in the 2010 Savantes program and returned for the Melbourne program in July, where he achieved the 60% mark required for Associate Savante status. The Twentyman family own the Ocean View Estate olive grove at Mangonui in the far north of New Zealand; Alex is also a professional bass guitarist and software marketer. Associate status is the first step to achieving full Savante status and membership of the International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Savantes Register. Tests include rancidity and intensity ranking, defect identification, regional identification, triangle tests and own oil identification. For further Information about the Savantes program, contact Simon Field at simon@olivebusiness.com or +61 418 329 890.
