Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne

Alexandra Kicenik Devarenne is an international olive oil consultant, writer, judge and educator at CalAthena LLC. She is a trained olive oil taster and has served on two official California taste panels. She is a judge and advisor for various California and international olive oil competitions and chairs the Napa Valley Olive Oil Competition. Alexandra has taught olive oil tasting classes in cooperation with IRTA, The Olive Oil Sommeliers of Japan, The Culinary Institute of America, The Los Angeles County Fair, UC Davis, and many others. She has presented at many olive oil conferences, shows and symposia in the US and abroad, focusing on olive oil quality, sensory education and communication. She is the author of “Olive Oil: A Field Guide” (AOCS Press) and numerous articles, papers and book chapters. She works with producers large and small on all aspects of olive oil from cultivar selection to olive oil quality improvement to branding and communication. Alexandra is CEO of Extra Virgin Alliance (EVA), an international trade association of olive oil producers and experts working to foster appreciation, restore consumer trust and create value in the market for authentic, high-quality extra virgin olive oil.