Regional Winners to Compete for Markhams Young Viticulturist Title
29 July 2010
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 Blenheim on 28 August as part of the 2010 Romeo Bragato conference.
Paul Robinson, a technical officer working with Villa Maria Estate, is the Hawke’s Bay Markhams Young Viticulturist for 2010. Second-time entrant, Paul, 23, took out the title against seven other wine industry hopefuls.
For the first time, a Gisborne entrant participated in the competition. Matt Fox, 24, has been working for Moana Park, Hawke’s Bay and DW Briant vineyards in Gisborne. He will represent this wine region in the final.
Stuart Dudley is the Marlborough Markhams Young Viticulturist for the second year in a row. The 27-year-old Delegat's Wine Estate grower-division viticulturist edged out six other competitors during a gruelling day of testing.
Nick Paulin, an assistant viticulturist at Felton Road winery is the Central Otago hopeful. In his fourth time tackling the competition, Nick won over five 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 $14000 prize package 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.
The firm became the inaugural naming rights’ sponsor last year and in 2010 has added to its contribution by donating advisory time to the $14,000 prize pool, and instigating a logo to help add to the professionalism of the event.
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.
