Young viticulturists challenged to test themselves

19 June 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Young viticulturists challenged to test themselves

Young viticulturists around the country are being challenged to step up and enter the annual competition to find their best and brightest to represent the sector in the national young horticulture competition later in the year.

An Open Day is being held to give those who need a bit of encouragement or convincing, the chance to find out from previous winners just exactly what’s involved and how good the spoils of winning $12,000 worth of prizes are.

On Tuesday 25 June, Hawke’s Bay hopefuls can meet at Te Awa Winery with previous national winners Nick Paulin from Central Otago and Braden Crosby of Wairarapa. Organiser of the national event, Emma Taylor is also another past Hawke’s Bay and national winner.

The Moore Stephens Markhams Young Viticulturist of the Year competition is in its eighth year and involves regional events in Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Central Otago. The national winner is found at the finals held in conjunction with the Romeo Bragato conference, this year being held in Blenheim. The Young Vit champion then competes against other horticulture sector winners for the coveted New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the Year award in November.

In the seven years of the viticulture sector event, five winners have gone on to take out the national award glory, and of these Caine Thompson and Emma Taylor have been from Hawke’s Bay.

“It’s a pretty strong showing for this region,” says Emma Taylor, a viticulturist with Villa Maria. “There’s good people coming up through the viticulture ranks and it’s great to see the competition growing in strength with support spreading amongst the industry.”

ENDS

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