Monna Oliva - Award for the Best Table Olives

Monna Oliva 2025 at Cantine di Dolianova

Before arriving in Itri, the national award Monna Oliva made a stop in Sardinia: on May 23-24, 2025, the Cantine di Dolianova hosted the competition along with the National Focus on table olives, organized by UMAO.

The first day was dedicated to development opportunities for olive growing in Sardinia and across the peninsula, while the second focused on the future of Italian table olive growing. The event featured speeches by university professors on the climate adaptation of cultivars and sensory analysis experts, including Dr. Ivano Caprioli, head panelist of the IOC, who reiterated the role of professional tasting as a tool for qualitative and commercial enhancement.

The award ceremony presented gold and silver medals to various Italian cultivars, from Nocellara del Belice to Ascolana del Piceno and the Gaeta olive. Afterward, participants tasted the winning olives and a selection of typical local products, accompanied by performances from the local folk group, with free visits to the Romanesque-Pisan cathedral of San Pantaleo.