The company has enjoyed significant growth every year since, says Brandon, who, like British-born Puneet, is an ex-pat. A Canadian, he moved to New Zealand after meeting his future kiwi wife, Andrea Lindsay, snowboarding in Whistler.
Employing a team of eight in sales and national distribution, Dhall & Nash imports wines - mainly from Europe, Australia, Chile and Argentina - and also represents 10 New Zealand wineries. It exports wines too, and recently dispatched a second shipment to China. Its label Bohemian is based on wines from its own vineyards in Central Otago, Marlborough and Hawke's Bay.
"Being back at EIT feels like a homecoming," Brandon says, looking around the institute's winery where the awards judging took place. "It's interesting to see that such an outstanding facility continues to expand.
"I made good contacts here, and was well supported during my studies and after."
After leaving Hastings Girls' High School, Tracy intended working in a bank for a year before going on to university to study for a degree in science. Twenty years on and still in the banking sector, she had a "mid-career life crisis" that prompted her to reactivate Plan A.
"I loved my time at EIT," she says of her time as a mature student. "With small class sizes, it's more like attending tutorials than lectures."
In addition to the Hawke's Bay A & P Mercedes Benz Wine Awards, Tracy has judged at the Spiegelau International Wine Competition and the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards.
"I like judging," she says.
"I have a reasonably good palate and the senior judges are very into mentoring associate judges, so it's a very positive and supportive environment."
For Brandon, it was a first professional judging experience, and one he found meshed well with studies for his Master of Wine qualification.
"Tasting wines at show level has boosted my confidence. Judging can be intense, but I didn't find it a problem and I'm looking forward now to sitting my exams when the next opportunity comes up in June next year."
