29 July 2007 Regional success for Lincoln University viticulture and oenology pair

The three regional winners will attend the Romeo Bragato Wine Conference in Auckland over 23-25 August and on the last day compete in the grand final of the Young Viticulturist of the Year competition, sponsored by Corbans, at Villa Maria vineyards near Auckland Airport. The winner, carrying the title Young Viticulturist of the Year, will then go on to represent the viticulture sector in the New Zealand Horticulture ITO Young Horticulturist of the Year competition in November.

For Nigel the regional win was particularly sweet success as he had come within a quarter point of taking the title last year when he was pipped by another Lincoln University graduate Marcus Wickham. Marcus, who is Vineyards Manager for NZ Vineyards Estates Ltd, later went on to win the 2006 Horticulturist of the Year title. He holds a Lincoln University Bachelor of Commerce (Agricultural) degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology.

The regional competition won by Nigel was a combination of practical and theoretical challenges including public speaking.

Nigel said the tasks he was presented with in the competition were things that he dealt with on a daily basis as a viticulturist and that all the different sections were “really good”.

Event organiser Jason Yank described Nigel as a “worthy and determined winner”.

As winner Nigel collected a prize of $1000 plus products from the sponsors and travel and accommodation for the Auckland grand final.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand