Evoluzione (Extra Virgin Olive Oil Festival)

An event that launches the extra virgin olive oil year

Evoluzione is the event that, every January, kicks off the year in the Capital by promoting high-quality Italian extra virgin olive oil. Conceived and promoted by Oleonauta and La Pecora Nera Editore, the festival has established itself within just a few editions as a key reference point for the national olive oil sector, bringing producers, restaurateurs, researchers, and curious consumers to the same table.

The venue is the Salone delle Fontane, in the EUR district of Rome (Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio): a bright, rationalist space that, for one full day, transforms into a true sensory map of Italian extra virgin olive oil, with tasting stations arranged by region and territory.

One day, many languages

The format is intentionally concentrated: a single day, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, featuring a non-stop sequence of diverse activities. Visitors can move freely between the producers' stands, engage with those who actually make the oil, and then settle into the hall for a conference, masterclass, or cooking show.

• Open tastings with olive oil companies from numerous Italian regions;
• Oil Bar, a space dedicated to independent tasting;
• The Oil Wheel, a series of guided tastings to learn how to identify fruity, bitter, and spicy notes;
• Thematic masterclasses on pairings and related raw materials, from coffee and spices to herbal arts and mixology;
• Scientific talks with universities and research centers on polyphenols and the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil;
• Cooking shows and round tables with chefs, pizza makers, and restaurateurs.

The Olive Oil Guide and the Evoluzione Awards

The most anticipated moment of the day is the official presentation of the Evoluzione Olive Oil Guide, a tool designed primarily for hospitality professionals who need guidance in selecting extra virgin olive oil for their menus or kitchens. The guide is distributed free of charge to professionals in attendance.

The presentation is accompanied by the Evoluzione Awards, granted in six categories that perfectly capture the event's philosophy: it is not just about the producer, but the entire supply chain that brings quality oil to the table. Awards are given to the best pizzeria, restaurant, menu, ice cream parlor, tourism initiative, and communication project. The plaques are handcrafted in porcelain by artist Yuriko Damiani.

Schools, youth, and new generations

A portion of the program is dedicated to education: hospitality schools participate with workshops and practical sessions designed to introduce future chefs to an ingredient that is too often still considered a mere anonymous condiment. It is a long-term cultural effort aimed at building awareness directly in the classroom.

Why it is worth attending

Evoluzione is not a general commercial fair: it is a vertical, dense event where, in just a few hours, you can sample a vast panorama of Italian oils and truly understand the differences between cultivars, territories, and extraction styles. For those living in Rome or Lazio, it is the most convenient opportunity of the year to get a complete overview of national extra virgin olive oil; for professionals, it is a concrete business appointment, with the guide and awards serving as a compass.

The EUR district, with its monumental architecture and wide pedestrian spaces, also offers an unusual setting compared to the postcard-perfect side of Rome: a walk to the lake or the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is the perfect way to round off the day.