The world of olive oil can be a lot like that of wine – there’s a bevvy of different oil brands out there offering different variants that can be baffling to understand at the best of times.

But equipping yourself with the knowledge of just what to look for an olive oil isn’t hard says Rob McGavin, CEO of Australian olive-oil producer Cobram Estate. And the man knows what he is talking about, considering the brand just won the 2016 Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) President’s Medal for the Cobram’s Reserve Hojiblanca Ultra-Premium.

Rob says it’s simple: “The quicker you can process the fresh olives the better the jess, as well as the nutritional benefits of the oil. Think of orange juice – the fresher the oranges, the better the taste and the better its health benefits.”

There are just three key components to any quality oil, he says. Which are the following:

1. Look for extra-virgin olive oil. Extra-virgin olive oil is an unrefined oil that is the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. It is oil devoid of chemicals, and not altered by temperature. A low level of oleic acid is present, as well as the highest concentration of antioxidants and minerals that are available in oil. As well as what most would consider to be the best flavour.

2. Look for Australian producers, as the nation is stringent in its guidelines. “Olive oil is one of the most cheated on products there is,” says Rob, so when it comes to picking your oil “you need to know and trust the source.” But in Australia, you have a guarantee that the product you buy will be of the highest quality. “Australia has an excellent reputation for traceability and integrity,” he continues.

3. “Look for the triangle of classification on the bottle,” says Rob. “You need to be able to clearly identify the classification of the product and see that it has been created according to strict industry regulation and standards.”

In short, you should invest in your oil as you would a wine. You get what you pay for, and you may as well be paying for something that not only adds flavour to your dish (or a chewy slice of sourdough) but is overflowing with the health benefits that a quality extra-virgin can offer.