The first Strada Vino Asolo Montello EVO Oil competition was presented in Treviso.

The prestigious Villa di Maser will host, on Saturday 30 May , the final conference and the awards ceremony of the first edition of “ Olio EVO Strada Vino Asolo Montello ”, a competition for the promotion of olive oil production in the municipalities of the Asolo and Montello Wine Route.

The event, promoted by the Asolo and Montello Wine Route , Veneto Agriculture , the Veneto Region , the Treviso-Belluno|Dolomiti Chamber of Commerce , the Maser Pro Loco Association-APS and the Municipality of Maser , was presented to the press today at the headquarters of the Province of Treviso.

"It is a great pleasure to host the official presentation of the final event of the "Olio EVO Strada Vino Asolo Montello" Competition, held in the splendid setting of Villa di Maser on May 30th," said Marco Donadel, President of the Province of Treviso . "The Competition, now in its first edition, represents a valuable initiative for our region, as it focuses on an agricultural production that in recent years has distinguished itself for its quality, identity, and ability to showcase the excellence of our hills. Treviso olive growing is now a growing sector that combines tradition, innovation, and sustainability, contributing to the protection of the rural landscape and the development of the local economy. We are therefore pleased, as a Province, to support projects like this, which promote the work of producers, the culture of extra virgin olive oil, and strengthen the link between agriculture, tourism, and food and wine, consolidating the network between institutions, associations, and operators in the sector to create growth opportunities for the benefit of the entire Marca Trevigiana."

The initiative stems from the desire to celebrate excellent olive growing rooted in a unique rural landscape, characterized by a profound harmony between agriculture, art, and history. The goal is to promote the culture of local extra virgin olive oil, support the quality of local produce, and enhance a constantly growing sector, increasingly linked to the dynamics of rural and food and wine tourism.

"Olive growing today represents one of the most exciting expressions of the qualitative growth of our region, serving as a formidable ambassador for our biodiversity and our rural landscape," continued Simone Rech, President of the Asolo and Montello Wine Route. "This first edition of the competition represents a milestone for our association and for the entire community: an initiative born to enhance the work of local producers, combining agricultural tradition and environmental protection with the ability to attract new tourism linked to the food and wine experience. Alongside wine, which has always identified us, extra virgin olive oil is demonstrating extraordinary vitality. Combining local care with cultural promotion is the key to ensuring a sustainable future for our hills, and the enthusiastic response from producers demonstrates that we are on the right path to establishing Asolo and Montello EVO oil as an increasingly recognizable product of excellence."

"The first edition of the "Olio EVO Strada Vino Asolo Montello" competition represents an important step in promoting the quality of our olive oil production and strengthening the bond between excellence, sustainability, and the local area," emphasized Federico Caner, Director of Veneto Agricoltura . "It is not only a moment of recognition for producers, but also a concrete opportunity for discussion and growth. At Veneto Agricoltura, we are committed to coordinating the regional olive oil working group, which connects the world of production and research to guide future decisions in the sector. Strategic projects are included in this framework, from studies on crop rotation to initiatives related to plant innovation, such as super-intensive olive growing, with the aim of making the sector increasingly resilient, sustainable, and competitive."

"The region between Asolo, Montello, and the Pedemontana del Grappa represents an extraordinary heritage, where landscape, food culture, and quality produce can increasingly become distinctive elements of attractiveness and competitiveness," commented Dario Bond, Councilor for Agriculture for the Veneto Region . "The growth of Veneto EVO oil, and especially of PDO products, depends on the ability to network and invest in the integrated promotion of the region. In this sense, initiatives like the competition and the producers' awards represent concrete recognition of the commitment and passion of the many companies that contribute every day to keeping our agricultural sector alive and dynamic, a sign of a sector that looks to the future with confidence."

The event on Saturday, May 30, will bring together researchers, technicians, producers, and industry professionals to explore key issues for the future of Venetian olive growing: from crop rotation to new technologies applied to olive groves, to olive oil tourism experiences and supply chain development strategies.

Following the institutional greetings, the program will feature speeches by: Michele Giannini , Director of the Agricultural Experimentation Unit of Veneto Agricoltura; Giulia Zuecco , researcher at the University of Padua; Cristina Marchi , Orlandi Carlo Agricultural Company; Umberto Caroleo of Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario; and Marco Valletta , food and wine professor and chef at Casa Alice TV.
The conclusions will be entrusted to the director of Veneto Agricoltura, Federico Caner .

The morning will conclude with the eagerly awaited awards ceremony for the first edition of the competition, curated by Claudio Crotti of Pro Loco Maser and Enzo Gambin of the Interregional Olive Producers Association - AIPO Verona.

In this first edition, 45 producers from the municipalities of the Asolo and Montello Wine Route will be awarded for their best oils from the 2025-2026 campaign.
The samples that have passed the technical evaluation of the AIPO Certified Panel will compete for the awarding of the Great Mention and the following prizes :
– “Maser EVO Oil Award 2025 - Franco Vettoreti";
– “Asolo-Montello 2025 EVO Oil Award” in the “Packaged Oil” and “Oil for Family Use” categories.

Special prizes will also be awarded:
– “Monte Grappa Biosphere Reserve Award”
– “Veneto Agriculture Award” for DOP Oil;
– “Treviso-Belluno Agricultural Consortium Award” for the top three overall;
– “Chamber of Commerce Award” for a young company.

The event is also sponsored and supported by: National Association of Oil Cities, MAB UNESCO Monte Grappa Biosphere Reserve, PPL – Small Local Productions, Madonna della Salute Celebrations Committee, Coldiretti Treviso, Confagricoltura Treviso, CIA Treviso, Agricultural Consortium of Treviso and Belluno, UNPLI Treviso.
Media partner: Informatore Agrario.

PLAN
9:30 a.m. - Institutional greetings
10.00 am - Michele Giannini , Director of the Veneto Agricoltura agricultural experimentation unit: “Production alternation in olive growing”.
10:30 am - Giulia Zuecco , Associate Professor, Department of Land and Agro-Forestry Systems, University of Padua: “Smart Olive Grove Project: Technologies and Research for Resilient Olive Growing.”
11:00 am - Cristina Marchi , Orlandi Carlo Farm: “Olive Oil Tourism Experiences in Illasi”.
11:15 am - Umberto Caroleo , CEO of Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario: “From the Field to Rural Tourism: A Case History for Promoting the Olive Oil Sector.”
11.45 am - Marco Valletta , Food and Wine Teacher and Chef on Casa Alice TV: “EVO Oil and Cooking: A Chef's Experience”.
12:15 pm - Conclusions by Federico Caner , Director of Veneto Agricoltura
12.30 pm - Competition awards ceremony, curated by Claudio Crotti , Pro Loco Maser and Enzo Gambin , Aipo Verona: “The role of panel testing in promoting quality oils”.
Moderator: Luca Pinzi

A buffet and tasting of the winning oils will follow.