Tonnellerie De Mercurey New Zealand Young Winemaker of the
Year Winner Annuonced
The 2017 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ
Young Winemaker of the Year Final was held at Villa Maria in
Auckland with the celebration dinner held at Ostro
Restaurant where Kelsey Daniels from Vinlink Marlborough was
announced the winner and Sara Addis from Trinity Hill,
Hawkes Bay runner up. Alongside Kelsey and Sara, the
national finalists were Abilgail Maxwell from Babich,
Marlborough and Tom Hindmarsh from Dry River Wines,
Martinborough.
Now in its third year, the competition is
about finding the best winemaking talent in New Zealand, as
well as providing education and support for those in the
industry who are under 30 years of age. Not only that,
Kelsey walked away with a travel allowance, training grant,
full registration to the 2018 Romeo Bragato conference, a
profile in Cuisine Magazine, a wine allowance, plus a trip
to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey cooperage in Burgundy
(airfares from NZ included), and of course the title of
being the 2017 New Zealand Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young
Winemaker of the Year.
Sherwyn Veldhuizen of supreme
naming sponsor Tonnellerie de Mercurey said how important
events like this are for the wine industry.
“We have
been involved in this event for three years and each year
the caliber of the contestants gets stronger as does the
expectation of them at the competition; this isn’t
something that you can compete in without a lot of extra
learning and extension plus the support of employers and
peers. The event is growing as is the wine industry of New
Zealand and it is such a pleasure to meet and support these
talented winemakers”.
This year’s partnership with
Cuisine Magazine acknowledges the high level of the
competition and respect it has within the wine industry and
helps celebrate the outstanding skill and knowledge of the
competitors. Laffort, O-I Glass, Farmlands and Vintech are
also strong supporters of the event, continuing their
involvement as National Sponsors for 2017.
Competitors
were put through their paces throughout the competition
cycle, with the four finalists qualifying for the National
Competition by coming first or second in their respective
North and South Island Competitions. In the national final
each competitor was tested and received points on general
knowledge, essay writing, presenting a speech, capex and
financial analysis, blending, laboratory skills, marketing
their wine and more. These are all essential elements that
as wine makers they will put into practice during their
career.
@NZYoungWinemaker #nzyoungwinemaker
ENDS