Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year

"It has helped me with continuing with my professional growth and also networking within the wine community" says Marisco's Production Winemaker of doing media interviews, judging events, and being asked to host tastings.

The 2023 National Final will be held at The Bone Line in North Canterbury on October 31, after regional competitions in Marlborough (won by Matua's Callum Haynes on 13 September), Central Otago to be held on 21 September, an the North Island to be held in Hawke's Bay on 28 September. The winner will be announced at the New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) Altogether Unique - A Celebration event in Ōtautahi Christchurch on 1 November.

Alun says the competition helped him grow in his vocation, with the judging section particularly beneficial. "It gives an insight not only to the wine competition environment but also gives you the opportunity to see what's out there on offer. It also involves taking the time to analyse and focus on different wines - varietally and stylistically," Alun says, having recently served as an associate judge for the New World Wine Awards. It was "fascinating to be on the other side of the curtain," he says of that competition. "I have stewarded the Marlborough Wine Show a couple of times now which really gives you an insight into the blindness, but also complications of hosting a wine show." His palate still needs training - "it's a marathon after all, not a sprint" - but the Young Winemaker and subsequent judging opportunity is a great introduction into the wine show world.

The speech segment of the Young Winemaker Competition was also a major learning, with his ability to speak in public, and share an opinion, having grown tenfold, which "has really helped me out at work doing presentations and tasting sessions with the wider team".

The competition is open to those aged 30 years or younger working in any winemaking role within New Zealand. "It's a fantastic opportunity for our future winemakers to stretch themselves as well as meet other fellow young winemakers, senior winemakers and suppliers to our industry," says Nicky Grandorge, Leadership and Communities Manager at NZW. "It's a really positive environment."