RULES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EVOO COMPETITION LEONE D’ORO 2025-2026
The leone d’Oro continues the legacy of the first international olive oil competition established in 1987: the “Leone d’Oro dei Mastri Oleari.”
Organization: The competition is professionally organized and managed by Maria (Paola) Gabusi VAT Number [VAT Number], expert in sensory analysis, the promotion of olive oil excellence And Panel Leader of Aipol2, Panel recognized by the italian Mipaaf.
Cultural patronage: The competition enjoys the cultural patronage of the O’live & Italy APS Association, dedicated to promoting the culture of high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Evaluation Method: The Leone d’Oro is distinguished by the extreme rigor of its sensory analysis, utilizing a single professional tasting panel to evaluate the organoleptic profiles of all samples, operating within a Ministry-certified Panel Room.
Timing: Samples are tasted in order of arrival from October to March. The best are re-tasted for the selection of finalists in April. At the end of April, the finalists are tasted again to determine the category winners. In the following months, additional sensory analyses help producers by providing shelf-life indications.
All the extra virgin olive oils that meet the International Olive Oil council ( IOC ) parameters for the latest olive harvest campaign may enter the competition, regardless of geographic origin, provided that an online registration form is duly submitted within the deadlines indicated.
Sample conditions:
- Oils must be commercially available through normal distribution channels.
- Bottles must be properly labeled, showing the batch number and all legally required details; otherwise, the sample will be immediately disqualified.
- For each oil entered, the batch production quantity must be declared, and it must be homogeneous, regardless of whether it has already been bottled.
The evaluation is carried out following the IOC Method, using a Ministry certified Panel Room and a single professional Panel composed by 13 professional tasters.
Two fact sheets are used for sensory analysis: 1- Quantitative evaluation sheet IOC that measures the intensity of the perception of olfactory and gustatory descriptors to determine the commercial category. 2-Leone d’Oro rating sheet focused on the qualities of perceived attributes such as harmony, complexity, persistence and varietal notes, to determine a QUALITATIVE score from 0 to 100.
From 2019 the Competition uses a proprietary software for the registration of all data of organoleptic evaluations. This archive allows you to follow the evolution of individual products over the years and is a unique tool of study at the service of producers.
LEONE D’ORO 100/100
UNIQUE AWARD , the best oil selected among the champions of producers who have won at least 2 Lions. Must be above 95/100 to be admitted.
SAMPLES FROM ITALY CATEGORIES
- LEONE D’ORO BLEND
- LEONE D’ORO ORGANIC
- LEONE D’ORO SMALL PRODUCERS (tot. production per farm NOT more than 3000lt)
- LEONE D’ORO MONOVARIETAL
- LEONE D’ORO DOP/IGP
- LEONE D’ORO SELECTION VARIETAL (each variety in the competition with more than 20 samples)
INTERNATIONAL
- BLEND
- ORGANIC
- MONOVARIETAL
- LEONE D’ORO SELECTION VARIETAL (ONLY variety in the competition with more than 20 samples)
- SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
EXTRA CATEGORIES
- ONE LEONE IN THE KITCHEN ® (Organoleptically “clean” oils, balanced and with the best quality/ price ratio, to be promoted in restaurants or as cooking oils for families. Packed in Bag-in-box of 3 or 5 lt to ensure greater stability over time)
- WORLD BEST PACKAGING
All samples shall be subjected to organoleptic assessment in accordance with the order of arrival. The Panel tastes weekly no more than 8 samples per day throughout the year.
Samples will be admitted to the Leone Selection if, at the end of the organoleptic evaluation, will have reached a score greater than or equal to 85/100.
The producers of the oils in Leone Selection will receive by email the organoleptic analysis and the professional Panel test, over the years they will have the report on the qualitative evolution of their product and will also compete for the Leone d’Oro
The Leone Selection entitles you free of charge to the stamp file and the promotion of the product through social channels, national and international masterclasses and all other activities of the association.
From the 2nd to the 7th classified by category with a rating higher than 94/100, entitled to the stamp file (free) and to the points provided for the world’s ranking
The ONLY WINNER of each category will be entitled to the stamp file and points provided in the world ranking
The winners of the Italian categories ” Small Producer”, “Monovarietal” and Organic” will win an exclusive contract of direct purchase from Bordoni Italia
Each nominated champion will be entitled to the stamp file and the points provided in the world ranking. The winner will receive a €450 discount coupon to be used in the registration of samples the following year
ATTENTION: For each sample, the following must be sent in the same package, under penalty of disqualification:
- A printed copy of the confirmation e-mail received at the end of the online application form.
- A copy of the payment receipt (not necessary if payment was made via PayPal).
- 4 bottles, labeled according to regulations:
- 2 bottles of 250 ml and 2 bottles of 500 ml capacity, OR
- 4 bottles of 500 ml or more.
- In the case of registration for the “Lion in the Kitchen” category only: 1 bag-in-box of 3 or 5 liters.
- The certificate of chemical analysis for the batch of oil submitted, indicating at least free acidity and peroxide value, may be sent by e-mail.
(Organic or PDO/PGI certifications are not required if they are clearly visible on the label.)
Shipping address:
MARIA PAOLA GABUSI
VIA FIRENZE N.10
25088 TOSCOLANO MADERNO (BS)
ITALY
Upon registration the same as 2024 contribution is required:
- FIRST sample 300 euro
- SECOND sample 150 euro
- THIRD sample 100 euro
- FOURTH sample 100 euro
- A Lion in the kitchen 50 euro
- Best packaging (included in the oil inscription but to compete must exceed 85/100)
The cost includes the organoleptic evaluation and the Panel Test for those who exceed 85/100. Otherwise it is possible to request a call for advice – by appointment – to evaluate critical issues and possible solutions.
The payment must be made at the same time as sending the application form, by bank transfer or via Paypal.
For the transfer use the following data:
- BANCA FIDEURAM Via S. Zeno,99 25124 Brescia
- account in the name of : Maria Gabusi
- IBAN: IT47N0329601601000066314812
- bic/swift: FIBKITMM
- MANDATORY reason: ” participation Leone d’Oro 2026 + company name”
Any bank fee shall be assumed by the participants
- LEONE D’ORO 2025/26 from 1 OCTOBER 2025 to 25 FEBRUARY 2026
The competition is limited to 300 samples. Once the 300th sample is registered, entries will be closed, even if the official deadline has not yet been reached. The order of registration, complete with payment, will determine acceptance.
We urge you to ship your samples AS SOON AS THEY ARE READY to allow us to organize the evaluations properly. We are not responsible for any issues that may occur to the samples during transport. If you ship after the end of November, it is very likely that the samples will arrive frozen; please ship earlier if possible.
From the moment of receipt through presentation in the Panel Room and beyond, the organizers will ensure the samples are stored carefully, preserving their integrity in a dark, temperature-controlled environment.
Samples are analysed by the Panel in order of arrival. The result of the organoleptic evaluation and any inclusion in the Leone Selection (Selezione Leone) is immediate and is communicated to the e-mail marked in the registration form together with the stamp file.
FINALISTS/GREAT MENTION of each category will be announced by email at the end of April 2026, at the end of all tastings.
The WINNERS of each national and international category will be announced during the Producers’ Celebration on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The 2026 Producers’ Celebration will be held in SICILY; further details will follow.
The awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to meet, make valuable connections, exchange ideas, and enjoy a weekend in truly magical places.
YOU ARE ALL WARMLY INVITED ALREADY!
Leone d’Oro has no sponsors, you support it with your subscriptions. With the subscriptions it pays the rent of the Panel Room, the material, the bills and so on..
Any contacts you receive through Leone for the sale of your product will never generate commissions or additional costs for producers. However, we ask you to express your gratitude by using with pride the seal (sticker) you have earned by helping us to make the Leone better known worldwide.
The tasters in this competition are a group of professionals aligned and trained throughout the year by the Panel Leader Maria Paola Gabusi and recognized by the Ministry under the name of Panel Aipol2.
During the tastings of Selezione Leone, the Panel Room in Brescia (Italy) is open to anyone, enrolled in the professional list of tasters, who wants to see how we work and taste with us. Clearly, its results will not be average nor a median. If you are interested send a Whatsapp to +39-3478784699.
We are collecting an important database of sensory evaluations related to monovarietals, so, please be correct in giving us an indication of the varieties present in your samples. We also ask you, if you want to support our research and produce single-variety oil, that you do not want to enter into the contest, to give us 1-2 bottles of it, in return we will share our sensory evaluation with you.
The bottles remaining after the tastings; from the reassessments of the finals, the evaluation of the shelf life, tastings in national and international masterclasses and all other initiatives aimed at the dissemination of your product, are addressed to the following causes:
- Annual donation of oil in sealed bottles to the Nursing Home Fondazione Bianchi of Toscolano Maderno
- Donation of bottles as a gift to competitors of the non-competitive race “In the Middle of the Olive Trees”: En Mes ai Ulif Trail
- Gifts in the lottery of the “Ciarpaleone” held on the day of the awards during the Festival of Producers. The money is entirely donated to different organizations. In 2023,2024 and 2025 you helped Medici Senza Frontiere, Sea Shepherd Italia, Paul Watson Foundation e Survival International, realities very connected to our mission that is safeguarding biodiversity.
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