Defending champions prove strength in wine competition

4 July 2011

MEDIA RELEASE

Defending champions prove strength in viticulture competitions

Defending champions proved too strong for the competition in both the Markhams Young Viticulturist and Fruitfed Supplies Silver Secateurs contests held on Friday, (1 July) with last year’s winners in both proving victorious again.

Paul Robinson, a technical officer working with Villa Maria Estate, retained his Young Viticulturist title and Fea Pievi from Pernod Ricard, scooped the pool, winning the individual tying and teams event, and coming second in the individual pruning Silver Secateurs competition behind winner Andrew Stove of Matua Valley.

Held at Mission Estate and hosted by the Focus Research Group of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc., the competitions preceded a Winter Workshop seminar focusing on managing disease pressure that was attended by over 100 growers.

Third-time entrant, Paul, 24, took out the award on Friday against four other local wine industry hopefuls, and another representing Wairarapa. Paul won the Waterforce Irrigation section, the Agtech Machinery section, and the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc, speech section when he spoke on the question of oversupply at the evening’s function, attended by 120 Hawke’s Bay industry leaders and supporters.

He will now represent the region at the national Markhams Young Viticulture of the Year Competition on to be held in Auckland on 27 August as part of the 2011 Romeo Bragato conference.

Second place getter was Marj Hurley, 26, also from Villa Maria Estates, who took out the Biostart Horty Sports section. Johnny La Trobe secured third place with wins in the Fruitfed trellising section, Harvest Hawke’s Bay pruning section, and Skeltons vineyard management section.

Wairarpa’s Braden Crosby, 29, won the Markhams budgeting round, Vineyard Plants section and the Pernod Ricard general knowledge quiz. Braden will be competing against Paul again at the national final.

The national winner will receive a $7000 prize package and will represent viticulture at the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition against other grower sectors.

Fei Pievi will also represent Hawke’s Bay at the national Silver Secateurs final being held in conjunction with Romeo Bragato. He will be accompanied by his fellow Pernod Ricard Redstone Vineyard team mates, and Andrew Stove who took out the individual pruning contest.

ENDS

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