The best gastronomic plan in Malaga for the weekend around olive oil: all the programming of the Molienda de Riogordo

This weekend, Riogordo will become the epicenter of the celebration of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) with a festival that pays tribute to this authentic gastronomic treasure. This municipality in Axarquía will host one of its most anticipated events, dedicated to highlighting the richness and tradition of its liquid gold that is carefully cultivated and produced in the region. The spotlight will once again fall on an unparalleled variety of olives, the oleic jewel of Axarquía, the Verdial de Vélez.

The XIV Molienda de Riogordo, an event that combines tradition, culture, and gastronomy, will take place from Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23, offering a program full of activities for all audiences. Attendees will enjoy exhibitions, conferences, and live cooking demonstrations, as well as guided tours of the olive groves and the 16th-century mill, where the artisanal olive milling process will be demonstrated. The event will also include unique activities such as an olive pit throwing contest, a local product market, and performances by different verdiales bands, adding a folkloric touch to the celebration.

One of the focal points of the event will be the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo, located on Church Street, where traditional pastry tastings, showcookings, and exhibitions will take place, allowing a deeper understanding of the history and value of EVOO in the region. Additionally, a gastronomic market will be set up on the same street, where visitors can purchase a selection of local products featuring extra virgin olive oil as the star ingredient.

In this edition, the Riogordo Town Council will offer tastings of two typical dishes from Riogordo's cuisine, both prepared by Francisco Perdiguero Rivero. On Saturday 22, a chickpea stew with tagarninas will be served, and on Sunday 23, a country salad.

Full program of the XIV Molienda de Riogordo

Friday, February 21

• 09:30 AM – Guided tour and beginner's workshop on tasting extra virgin olive oil, aimed at 4th and 6th grade primary school students and 2nd ESO from Colegio Ntra. Sra. de Gracia, led by Dr. Francisco Lorenzo Tapia (Expert in Community Nutrition. President of the OLEARUM Association, Culture and Heritage of Oil) and Enrique Godínez Luque, director of the Ethnographic Museum. At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 09:30 AM – Planting of olive trees in the urban environment of Riogordo by the 2nd grade primary school students from Colegio Ntra. Sra. de Gracia. At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 07:00 PM – Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo. Opening of the exhibition: The Olive Tree for Man. Paintings by Victoria Dael and photographs by Kristian Kaarna. It will be displayed until the end of March 2025 at the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).

Saturday, February 22

• 10:00 AM – Guided tour to witness the live production of Verdial Liquid Gold and miller's breakfast. At Agro-Olivarera de Riogordo S.C.A. (Campillo area).
• 10:00 AM – VII Cross 'La Molienda de Riogordo': Race included in the Provincial Circuit of Popular Races organized by the Diputación de Málaga, the Andalusian Athletics Federation, and the Riogordo Town Council.
• 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM – Throughout the day, attendees can see the old oil mill (16th century) in operation. Reception of olives, artisanal production of verdial olive oil in a blood mill, lever press, and natural decantation of the obtained liquid gold. At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 12:00 PM – Conference: Beginner's workshop on tasting olive oil. Led by Mr. Alfredo Rivero Molina, director of the Labsur Laboratory in Riogordo, at the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 01:00 PM – Conference: The importance of local varieties in the context of 21st-century olive growing. Given by David Marcos Merchán, agricultural engineer and head of Sophie Nurseries. Marketer of olive plants especially focused on local and minor varieties with projection, at the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 04:30 PM – Processing and pressing of the capacho load. Accompanied by Olive Grove Songs by the Women's Association El Borbollón, at the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 05:00 PM. Tasting of local pastries based on Verdial EVOO by the Women's Association El Borbollón.
• 06:00 PM. VII Poetry Recital “La Molienda de Riogordo”. At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo.
• 07:30 PM. Showcooking with tasting: EVOOs and cheeses in Roman cuisine, 2000 years of gastronomic synergy. Led by Daniel García Peinado, AOVE chef and executive chef of Gourmet de la Roja. Delegate of the Spanish Professional Cooking Team. Gastronomic director of AoveSpain. And María José Sánchez Pérez, technician of AGAMMASUR S.C.A. Colmenar (Málaga).

Sunday, February 23

• 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM. Craft workshops linked to the culture of the olive: olive cleaning workshop with zaranda (Mr. Francisco Perdiguero Rivero), contest for splitting verdial olives (Mr. Francisco Perdiguero Rivero) and workshop for making esparto capachos (Mr. Antonio Galindo Montenegro).
• 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM – Throughout the day, attendees can see the old oil mill (16th century) in operation. Reception of olives, artisanal production of verdial olive oil in a blood mill, lever press, and natural decantation of the obtained liquid gold. Accompanied by Olive Grove Songs by the Women's Association El Borbollón. At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 11:00 AM. Conference: The Traditional Olive Grove as a resilient cultural landscape, blessing or curse?. Given by Ana Isabel Alonso Alonso, partner of Olearum, Culture and Heritage of Oil and quality manager of the As Pontis Mill. Eljas (Cáceres). At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 12:00 PM. Conference: Comparative tasting of EVOOs from traditional olive groves and super-intensive cultivation. Given by Ana Isabel Alonso Alonso, partner of Olearum, Culture and Heritage of Oil and quality manager of the As Pontis Mill. Eljas (Cáceres). At the Ethnographic Museum of Riogordo (Church Street).
• 01:00 PM. Award Ceremony: Local, National, and Honorary Fúxcar Olive Awards.
• 01:30 PM. Olive pit throwing contest with aloreña olives from Málaga.
• 02:00 PM. Maragatas dances on Church Street. Maragatas Group from Colmenar.

*During the weekend, attendees can 'ECHAR LA PORRA' in the hospitality establishments of Riogordo, tasting typical dishes of Riogordo's gastronomy made with Verdial EVOO. On Church Street, a market of Malaga products related to the culture of extra virgin olive oil will be set up during the Saturday and Sunday sessions.

**Courtesy of the Riogordo Town Council, there will be a tasting of typical Riogordo gastronomy dishes prepared by Francisco Perdiguero Rivero harmonized with Verdial EVOO from Agro-Olivarera de Riogordo S.C.A. For Saturday 22, chickpea stew with tagarninas and for Sunday 23, country salad.