Winemaker joins her mentor in fellowship

Kate Radburnd has built a huge reputation in winemaking over years of being deeply involved in the industry. Photo / Supplied

For Hawke's Bay winemaker and managing director of Pask Winery Kate Radburnd a link she forged with Sir George Fistonich more than 30 years ago was made stronger last Saturday night.

Mrs Radburnd, who has built a huge reputation across the New Zealand wine landscape and is one of the most respected winemakers and judges in the industry, was awarded a New Zealand Winegrowers Fellowship - the first woman to achieve it.

It was both a proud and fitting moment, as she now joins Sir George as a "fellow" in the industry.

"I was absolutely delighted - it was a lovely moment," she said yesterday from Nelson where she was enjoying a couple of days break from her busy schedule.

"I love the industry and it is a huge part of my life, so this was very special."

The much-coveted fellowship recognises an individual's dedication to, and influence within, the industry.

It was Sir George who was delighted to step forward five years ago at the New Zealand International Wine Show and present Mrs Radburnd with the Sir George Fistonich Medal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the industry.

Going back further, it was Sir George who interviewed her in 1983 when she was a student in her final year of a winemaking course at Roseworthy College in South Australia.

She made the cut in Sir George's eyes and she was taken aboard as an assistant winemaker at Vidals which came under the Villa Maria umbrella.

"He was my role model and he fostered my passion and interest in wine," she said.

"He was inspiring - he provided an environment at work to develop and explore winemaking."

Now, in the wake of last Saturday night's announcement, she joins the man who had long been her mentor as a prestigious fellow.

"But I would never have envisaged that when I was starting out."

Mrs Radburnd has long been passionately involved in the New Zealand wine industry and has served as a director of New Zealand Winegrowers.

She is in huge demand as a competition judge nationally and internationally, and has been involved in all the major national award competitions.

She is a regular international guest judge in the United States and Australia and is chair of judges at the Royal Easter Wine Show Awards - the country's oldest and most prestigious wine competition.

She pioneered the Sustainability Winegrowing New Zealand programme for the industry nationwide, with Pask Winery the first vineyard and winery in the country to obtain such accreditation.

Passionate about winemaking, especially in the education sense, she has been instrumental in her role as the deputy chair of the Council of the Eastern Institute of Technology from 2001 to 2013.

The EIT has wine science and viticulture as two of its flagship degrees.