Meet Our Certified Olive Oil Sommelier

Maria Blackburn

Maria Blackburn is passionate about health, family, and the strength of natural ingredients. She is proud to offer what she believes to be some of the finest, highest-polyphenol olive oil available in the UK. With her knowledge and experience, Maria’s goal is not only to share exceptional EVOO but also to help others truly understand, appreciate, and enjoy its remarkable health properties and flavour every day.

Certified Olive Oil Sommelier

Maria Blackburn, founder of The Governor back in 2016, is a Certified Olive Oil Sommelier, trained through an internationally recognised programme - Olive Oil Times Education Lab. This qualification demonstrates deep expertise in olive oil quality, flavour, and health properties, and a commitment to helping people understand what sets exceptional extra virgin olive oil apart.

Certificate - Issued in New York on 2026-03-18 by the Olive Oil Times Education Lab

What This Means

As a certified sommelier, Maria is trained in:

• Sensory analysis (flavour, aroma, and quality)
• Identifying defects and authenticity
• Polyphenols and their health benefits
• Olive oil production methods and their impact

This knowledge ensures every bottle of The Governor is selected not just for taste, but for its nutritional value and integrity.

Why It Matters

Many olive oils on the market lack in both quality and health benefits.

Maria’s expertise ensures that The Governor:

• Contains high levels of beneficial polyphenols
• Meets strict standards for freshness and authenticity
• Delivers both exceptional flavour and functional health benefits

You’re more than buying olive oil; you’re choosing one selected with expert knowledge and care.

A Passion for Health & Quality

Maria’s work is driven by a passion for health, family, and natural ingredients.

Her focus is simple: to offer olive oil that supports wellbeing while delivering outstanding taste.

Her sommelier training strengthens this mission by combining science, tradition, and everyday use.

From Corfu to Your Kitchen

The Dafnis family produces The Governor in Corfu using early-harvest methods from centuries-old Lianolia olive trees. We are proud to be part of this extraordinary project, working closely with the Dafnis family, a genuine, passionate family dedicated to producing some of the healthiest extra virgin olive oils in the world. We visit The Governor’s Olive Mill in Corfu at Harvest time most years and visit regularly throughout the year.

More Than Olive Oil

This certification is about more than credentials; it’s about sharing knowledge.

Through The Governor, Maria helps customers:

• Understand how to choose high-quality EVOO
• Learn how to use it daily for health.
• Appreciate its flavour and benefits.

Our Promise

• Expert-led selection
• Proven quality
• A product you can trust

Explore the Difference

Experience olive oil selected with true expertise, for health and flavour.