There are encounters in life that turn everything upside down, that awaken deep passions that we thought had gone asleep forever. Alexandra Gauquelin-Roché, our new olive oil selector, knows all about this. Her story is one of a bold reconversion, a return to her sensory roots and a love for the Mediterranean land.
The fragrance of possibilities
"When I was a teenager, I dreamed of becoming a nose", recalls Alexandre Gauquelin-Roché. But as is often the case, dreams are put aside in favor of more conventional paths. Marketing became her path, but the subtle, bewitching scent of olive oil eventually caught up with her.
Working with the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence, she discovers the world of agriculture and lets herself be carried away by its aromas and flavors. It was during a trip to Puglia, Italy, that she had this olfactory revelation, this "sensory love at first sight" for olive oil. It was an encounter that transported her and marked a decisive turning point in her life.
From marketing to olive growing
Despite the challenges and sacrifices, Alexandra persevered. She took courses at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Montpellier, juggling her family and professionnl commitments in Paris. "I had classes twice a week", she recalls, "but none of this would have been possible without my team, who were really great".
Armed with her diploma, she embarked on her entrepreneurship adventure, first timidly with an online sales website, that with the farm Les Callis, an old building in the heart of the southern lands, where she planted her first olive trees.
Olive oil, a contagious passion
Alexandra doesn't stop there. Aware of the importance of sharing her passion and know-how, she created L'Hove, a company offering training courses dedicated to olive growing. Today, Alexandra juggles her multiple roles: trainer, extra virgin olive oil producer, and selector for the Oliviers&Co brand.
Selector for the Oliviers&Co brand
Alexandra is in daily contact with olive oil producers around the Mediterranean basin, both to select the best batches of olive oil and to discover new gems. Alexandra ensures that the selected oils meet our demanding and specific criteria.
For each vat received in Mane, before bottling, Alexandra carries out an organoleptic check to sensures that the oil is indeed the one selected and that it has no defects. Only then is the oil bottled and available for sale.
Sources
https://www.lafermelescallis.com/
Photo credit: Adéral Piot