National young viticulturist competition biggest yet

Anton Luiten. Hawke's Bay young viticulturist competition winner. Photo/ File

A total of six contestants will compete for the National Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year - the largest number yet.

Anthony Walsh from Constellation, who became the Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on Thursday, will contest the national final with other finalists including Anton Luiten, who triumphed last month as the Hawke's Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year.

Luiten grew up with wine on the dinner table, but said he only became a fan of it since starting his studies at EIT.

So far he had worked more in the viticulture side of winemaking than the laboratory, but is heading to the United States later this year to do a vintage in the cellar of a winery owned by his employer, Constellation Brands.

At 29 this was the last year Walsh could enter so he was more determined than ever to take out the title this year as it was his last opportunity to go through and represent Marlborough in the national final. He is thrilled all his hard work paid off.

Matthew Gallop, also from Constellation, took out second place and Shannon Horner from Marisco came third.

Laurie Stradling from Kaimira Estate, Nelson, also made the grade. He competed and needed to achieve the high standard required to go through to represent Nelson in the national final.

The Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year competition continues to grow in numbers and standard. The calibre of the contestants is increasingly high which is "fantastic for the future of the New Zealand wine industry", a spokesperson said.

The national winner not only gains the title of Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year, but a prize package of $2000 cash, a $5000 AGMARDT travel scholarship, a Hyundai Santa Fe for an entire year, wine glasses and a leadership week where they meet some of the top leaders in the New Zealand wine industry.

They also go on to represent the wine industry in the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition.

The next regional competition is Central Otago next week.