NEW VINTAGE TRIO COMPLETES COOKOOTHAMA’S NEW LOOK

January 2009

Three new releases from award-winning Nugan Estate winery have hit the shelves completing the sexy new look for the Cookoothama range. With new apparel sprucing up their appearance, Cookoothama continues to offer amazing value under $15.

First up is the immensely popular and great value 2008 Cookoothama King Valley Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ($14.95). The Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Nugan family’s vineyard in the cool-climate King Valley, Victoria, and Semillon from their Cookoothama vineyard in the Riverina. After picking, the fruit was gently crushed, chilled and pressed immediately to preserve the delicate cool-climate aromas and flavours. The Semillon component was added to give the blend mouth feel and a little more complexity. The result is a crisp and zesty wine with fresh aromas of citrus and gooseberry followed by a lively palate of crisp lime, vibrant citrus and tropical notes. Perfect for a long warm summer’s afternoon and popular for January BBQs and book club!

2006 Cookoothama Chardonnay ($14.95), from the Cookoothama vineyard on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point in the Riverina. Carefully selected parcels of fruit underwent a cool fermentation to preserve the delicate fruit flavours, with 80% of the blend in French Oak. Post ferment the parcels rested on yeast lees and were stirred monthly to encourage complexity and mouth feel. The result is a mouth filling, complex Chardonnay that over-delivers for its price. The nose boasts rich, toasty aromatics of canned peach and rock melon, with subtle cinnamon and vanillin spices. The palate bursts with peaches and citrus, over mixed spice and a long finish. Try matching with salmon or chicken Caesar salad.

2005 Cookoothama Basket Press Merlot ($22.95) is Daren Owers’, Nugan Estate’s wine- maker, baby and a rare benchmark example of varietal Merlot. What is more surprising, is this little gem comes from the family’s vineyard in the Riverina. But like all projects of passion, this wine has enjoyed very special attention being hand-picked and then foot trodden by the wine- makers feet – otherwise known to the French as the ‘pigeage’ method. The theory being that human feet are unable to crush the grapes seed, ensuring a wine with softer tannins. The wine is then basket-pressed to retain softness and transferred to new and one year old French oak for 28 months maturation prior to bottling. The result is a foot stomping benchmark example of varietal Merlot filled with aromas of ripe black cherry, earth and allspice and an elegant palate of ripe berry fruit with hints of milk chocolate. Even if you don’t think you like Merlot, try this one... it is good!

Ends.

Cookoothama label: Cookoothama “cook-a-tharma” is the name of the Nugan family’s 310 hectare vineyard at Darlington Point on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the Riverina. It is the original name of this property before the vineyards were planted and is the aboriginal word meaning “fertile land”. The hands on the label pay tribute to the pioneers who have lived and cultivated the land spread out along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River transforming it into the prosperous, fertile land it is today. Distribution: Cookoothama is distributed directly by Nugan Estate in NSW, Deja Vu in VIC & QLD, Off the Vine in WA and Oak Barrel in ACT.

For further information please contact: Tiffany Nugan, National Sales Manager, on 0414 969 110 or [email protected]; Kate Kriven at Liquid Ideas on 0416 924 061 or [email protected]; or Gillian Martin at Liquid Ideas on 02 9667 4211 or [email protected].

Inspirational history …from fruit & veg to wine…

The Nugan story is inspirational. A third generation family business, the Nugan Group is now a highly diversified bourgeoning business. Yet its beginnings were humble.

The Nugan Group was founded in 1940 when Alfredo Nugan emigrated from Spain to start a small fruit and vegetable packing operation. In 1965 his son, Ken, took over the business and it underwent substantial growth.

However, the 1980s saw market changes and Ken’s unexpected death from cancer. At this time, Ken’s wife, Michelle, was forced to drive the then faltering family business forward and that she did. Michelle grew the business into one of Australia’s most successful agricultural enterprises with turnover in excess of $80 million resulting in her being recognised as a Telstra Business Women of the Year, Australian Export Hero and most recently, 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year (Eastern Region).

However, the last decade has seen the family’s passion for European lifestyle result in their successful diversification into wine. Today Nugan Estate owns 590 hectares of vineyards in the Riverina, King Valley and McLaren Vale – making them the 15 th largest vineyard holders in Australia. In addition, Nugan Estate sources premium quality grape from the renowned Coonawarra region.

Matthew and Tiffany Nugan, Michelle’s children, have spearheaded the diversification into the wine industry - resulting in an extremely successful global story. Indeed, in 7 years Nugan Estate has collected 23 Trophies and 1117 medals and grown to be Australia’s 13th largest exporter of wine.