Regional Winners to Compete for Young Viticulturist Title

Regional Winners to Compete for Markhams Young Viticulturist Title

29 July 2011

The finalists have been found and now the country’s best and brightest young viticulturists are swatting up their theory and practicing their skills in anticipation of the national Markhams Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition being held in Auckland on 27 August as part of the 2011 Romeo Bragato conference.

Third time entrant, Paul Robinson, 24, a technical officer working with Villa Maria Estate, retained his Young Viticulturist title for Hawke’s Bay, taking out the Waterforce Irrigation section, the Agtech Machinery section, and the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc, speech section.

Wairarapa’s Braden Crosby, 29, won the Markhams budgeting round, Vineyard Plants section and the Pernod Ricard general knowledge quiz in the Hawke’s Bay regional event.

Nick Paulin, 27, of Peregrine Winery in Gibbston Valley is the Central Otago hopeful. In his fifth time tackling the competition, Nick won over seven competitors.

James Bowskill, 27, of Jackson Estate took out the title for Markhams Marlborough Young Viticulturist against six other competitors.

Markhams directors, Hamish Pringle, Hawke’s Bay; Denise Gow, Dunedin, and Graeme Rhodes, Christchurch helped with judging at the Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago and Marlborough events respectively.

Contestants in both regional and national events are required to complete set tasks at a number of work stations and present a speech on a given topic. In addition, contestants compete in a timed eight activity ‘horty sports’ contest, and participate in a quick fire buzzer general knowledge quiz.

The national winner will receive a prize package valued at over $10,000 and will represent viticulture at the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition against other grower sectors in November.

Inaugural local sponsors from the start of the competition in 2006, Markhams has grown its involvement as the event has gained in reputation to its status now as the leading accomplishment for young viticulturists to win.

Markhams support of the wine industry is also evidenced in its bi-annual business confidence survey that is conducted around the country and is used as a benchmark tool by the both the wine and financial industries.

ENDS

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