AUSTRALIA'S COBRAM ESTATE DOMINATES THE WORLD'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS OLIVE OIL SHOW IN LOS ANGELES

Cobram Estate, Australia's largest and most awarded extra virgin olive oil producer, has won an unprecedented Best of Show International in two out of three categories at the 2011 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. Cobram Estate single origin 2011 Reserve Picual took home the gold medal and won Best in Class and Best of Show International for the "medium" intensity category. Cobram Estate single origin 2011 Reserve Hojiblanca earned a gold medal and Best in Class and Best of Show International status in the "delicate" intensity category.

Competition organisers confirm that no other producer has won two Best of Show awards in the same year in the twelve-year history of the event. Cobram Estate entered a total of 5 olive oils and competed against more than 600 other entries from 20 different countries, including some of the most prestigious brands from Italy, Spain and California. To add to their outstanding win, Cobram Estate will also take home a gold medal and Best in Class for Cobram Estate Light and Delicate and well as gold medals for Cobram Estate Premiere and Cobram Estate Koroneiki. This is a huge honour for a country that generally does not come first to mind when thinking about Olive Oil.

Cobram Estate's Executive Chairman Rob McGavin comments: "Winning 2 of the 3 best in show trophies up against the very best premium olive oil brands from around the world and 5 gold medals in total, shows that a fantastic olive oil is not necessarily linked to traditions or geography but to honest hard work, a strong understanding of the local environment and great people and it is clear that Australia, and Cobram Estate in particular, have them all. "It makes me very proud that Australian consumers are able to purchase some of the best quality olive oil in the world such as Cobram Estate in almost every supermarket in this country at a very affordable price.......I hope everyone takes advantage of this situation."

Australia is well known for its wines, and many of the same conditions that produce high quality wine grapes also produce superior olives for extra virgin olive oil. Cobram Estate is Australia's leading extra virgin olive oil producer, voted twice as olive grower of the year, and is without peer as Australia's most awarded extra virgin olive oil brand. On three large groves north of Melbourne, the company oversees production from tree to table. The onsite nursery, custom-built harvesting machines, efficient production systems, and advanced processing and storage technology all help to ensure the freshness and quality of the oil at every step. Cobram Estate produces almost 60% of Australia's extra virgin olive oil and now exports to nine countries.

The Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition is held each year in advance of the Los Angeles County Fair in July, where winners are presented at the Fair's Wine & Spirits Marketplace. A panel of 18 olive oil experts from around the world judged over 600 entries in two categories: domestic and international, separated according to regional designations and fruitiness intensity levels. The competition is one of the largest in the olive oil world and contains a diverse mix of oils from all major olive oil producing countries. California, Italy and Spain were the best represented regions with 413 of 601 entries in this year's competition with Australia accounting for only 14.

Cobram Estate's winning oils were produced in accordance to the company's proprietary 'Ultra Premium' method. Selected parcels of heavy cropping fruit are picked at optimum ripeness and are ultra cold pressed within 6 hours of picking. "Our unique oil making method allows the oils to shine, delivering exceptionally fragrant, complex and flavoursome Extra Virgin olive oils" says McGavin. "Having also won the 'Best oil in Australia' for our 2009 Hojiblanca, these awards confirm our growing conditions and oil making techniques are using are world class".

Cobram Estate Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oils are available at supermarkets, deli's and gourmet stores throughout Australia. A limited release of the Best in Show 2011 Reserve Hojiblanca and Best in Show 2011 Reserve Picual together with the 2011 Premiere are available online at www.cobramestate.com.au and from leading retailers the Essential Ingredient (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Orange, Newcastle and Albury) and Black Pearl Epicure (Brisbane).

Cobram Estate also produces Australia's top selling home grown extra virgin olive oils. These oils are available in supermarkets throughout Australia at a suggested retail price of $5.49 for 375ml, $10.49 for 750ml and $23 for 3L together with a range of extra virgin olive oils infused with lemon, garlic and chilli, available at a suggested retail price of $4.49 for 250ml.

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