15 March 2008 International winemaking success an 'inspiration' to incoming students

Nothing succeeds like success and the growth of New Zealand's winemaking industry is dollar-earning proof of that. It's now aiming for $1 billion of exports by 2010, an achievable target according to New Zealand Winegrowers Chief Executive Philip Gregan.

Supporting the industry and contributing to that export ambition is a long lineage of Lincoln University graduates with specialist qualifications in viticulture and wine science and a raft of success stories of their own.

Here's a story about two them that's hard to beat. In the most recent International Wine Challenge in London - the world's largest wine competition - a pair of winemakers both with Lincoln University postgraduate qualifications won the premier awards. And this is a competition which drew over 9000 entrants and was judged by an international panel of more than 465 winemakers, merchants and writers! Results were announced in September 2007.

Lincoln University graduate Alastair Maling, Villa Maria Estate's group winemaker, was named International White Winemaker of the Year, while fellow Lincoln alumnus Samantha Connew, now working in Australia at Wirra Wirra winery near Adelaide, was named International Red Winemaker of the Year.

Alastair has a Lincoln University Bachelor of Commerce (Agricultural) degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology, the same Lincoln postgraduate qualification that Samantha holds.

"Alastair and Samantha's success was exciting news for Lincoln University as we follow the careers of our graduates with interest," says Lincoln University's Senior Lecturer in Viticulture Dr Glen Creasy.

"Around the same time as the London competition we had another Lincoln University alumnus competing at a top level, in the national Viticulturist of the Year Competition at Villa Maria vineyards in Auckland. Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology graduate Nigel Sowman of Dog Point Vineyards, Renwick, won his way into the grand final by earlier winning the Marlborough-Nelson regional competition. Although unplaced in Auckland, Nigel has the satisfaction of knowing that in making the final he was following in the footsteps of the viticulturist who went on to win the 2006 Viticulturist and Horticulturist of the Year titles, Marcus Wickham, another holder of Lincoln University's Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology.

"Lincoln University sees high achievers like Alastair, Samantha, Nigel and Marcus as inspirations for those coming into its viticulture and oenology courses and examples of the way its qualifications can take graduates anywhere in the wine-producing world. Samanatha, for example, has worked in wineries in the US, Italy and Australia."

In addition to his Lincoln University degree and diploma, Alastair holds the prestigious Master of Wine qualification and is one of only a handful of New Zealanders with this internationally recognised credential.

Samantha says that winning the international red wine title was like winning at the Oscars of the wine industry.

"For those wanting to work in the wine industry, enrolling in Lincoln University's Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology programme is a great first step," says Dr Creasy.

For information on Lincoln University's viticulture and oenology programme and all other courses, go to www.lincoln.ac.nz