Altogether Unique - A Celebration saw the 2023 Fellows of New Zealand Winegrowers acknowledged, with Neal and Judy Ibbotson, Mal McLennan, Dr David Jordan (DJ), and Peter Holley recognised for their extraordinary contribution to the industry, along with 2022 Fellows Rose and Jim Delegat. The 250 attendees also celebrated the three regional winners of the Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year, who completed their national competition with a speech at the Altogether Unique event, explaining what made their own wine region so special.
The speech section and the national title were won by 22-year-old Alena Kamper from Sacred Hill, who ran an auction offering Hawke's Bay to the winning bid, while selling its attributes to the crowd. Alena is the youngest winner of the event to date, and, along with fellow finalists Callum Haynes and Eliana Leal, represents the extraordinary new talent coming up through the industry. The event also saw both the Hawke's Bay Winegrowers and Gisborne Winegrowers associations recognised for their huge efforts during Cyclone Gabrielle.
With United Kingdom wine legend Oz Clarker taking to the stage to wax lyrical about his love of New Zealand wine, as well as a talk from newly elected Director General of the Organisation of Vine and Wine, Dr John Barker, the celebration was a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past and plan for the future.
