Winejobsonline.com is all about people, and sponsorship is one way we love to celebrate the successes in New Zealand's wine industry.
That's why we have selected a few very special areas to become involved in by way of sponsorships and industry support.
After 30 years in its current format, the First-Glass Wine Options final event was held on 1 July in Auckland with over 200 people swirling sipping and spitting (or not) their way through a dozen amazing wines. Once again winejobsonline sponsored the trophy for the winning trade team. Heather was thrilled to present it to the Hancocks team of Andrew Taylor, Gill Phelan, Lara Hoye and Kevin Short seen here below with Heather Battersby of winejobsonline (2nd from left). Congratulations everyone, and especially Kingsley Wood, convenor, with thanks for 30 marvellous years of Wine Options.
When we were asked to sponsor a trophy we opted for the Sweet Wine one and, guess what, the Forrest Estate Noble Riesling 2006 took out yet another trophy - how many is that for this wine? 8? 9? no-one seems to know for sure. One thing, Dr John Forrest was all smiles when he stepped up to receive it. What a great night, thanks Belinda Jackson, Competition Director, and Marlborough wine industry for your hospitality.
The Wine of the Show was, fittingly, a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - congratulations Invivo Wines.
Dr John Forrest receives his trophy from Heather Battersby, winejobsonline.com
So, it was Central Otago first, Hawkes Bay 2nd. And that's not wine this time, but the Young Viticulturists who competed this afternoon in a closely fought final at Auckland's Villa Maria Estate. Nick Paulin from Peregrine and Paul Robinson Villa Maria Hawkes Bay were top two out of 5 in the final event of the 3-day Romeo Bragato Conference this year.
The other 3 finalists were Braden Crosby from Wairarapa, James Bowskill from Jackson Estate Marlborough and Hannah (?) from Auckland (Villa Maria). Family and friends and a (very) few from the industry were there to support the contestants and it was nice to be there to see the winners announced and the trophy presented by Sam Bassett of Markhams.
James, Hannah, Braden, Nick, Paul. The Young Viticulturist trophy is made from a 45 year old vine from the original Corban nursery, Whenuapai.
Comment that I hope doesn't get me into trouble... Where were all the supporters? I know and understand that transport was an issue from the Bragato conference venue to Villa Maria Estate, I understand lots of delegates had headed home... but, there were only a handful of people there and these young viticulturists deserve more industry support - just to be there and see them, cheer them on, shake their hands for having a go - they are the future of our industry and it would have been super if there had been more industry folk there to see their enthusiam...
Great to meet Nick's mum and dad, all the way from Invercargill to see their son take out the trophy. Cheers
The regional competitions commenced on Friday 1 July with the Hawkes Bay event, and we have again supported the event by donating prizes of Spiegelau glassware to the winners.
Central Otago young viticulturists competed in their regional competition on Friday 15 July, with a sense of deja vu for those watching? Nick Paulin from Peregrine defended his title from last year, Michelle Dacombe of Felton Road was 2nd, and Dave Salmon from Kawarau Estate came third (as he was last year). Congratulations everyone.
In the photo below, from left to right:
Gael Laurie (organiser), Michelle, Nick, Dave, and Martin Anderson (MC)
Paul Robinson, a technical officer working with Villa Maria Estate, retained his Young Viticulturist title. Third-time entrant, Paul, 24, took out the award on Friday against four other local wine industry hopefuls, and another representing Wairarapa.
He will now represent the region at the national Markhams Young Viticulture of the Year Competition on to be held in Auckland on 27 August as part of the 2011 Romeo Bragato conference.
Second place getter was Marj Hurley, 26, also from Villa Maria Estates, who took out the Biostart Horty Sports section. Johnny La Trobe secured third place with wins in the Fruitfed trellising section, Harvest Hawke's Bay pruning section, and Skeltons vineyard management section.
Wairarapa's Braden Crosby, 29, won the Markhams budgeting round, Vineyard Plants section and the Pernod Ricard general knowledge quiz. Braden will be competing against Paul again at the national final.
The 29th Wine Options was held on Sunday 26 June, with winejobsonline.com sponsoring the award for the winning trade team - this year won by Treasury Wine Estates - The Big Bad Wolf & Three Squealing Pigs, who were also placed 4th overall. Congratulations to Lisa Powell, Lizzie Grisdale, Rowan Hall and Damian Archbold. Enjoy your champagne, and the kudos.
We were thrilled to be in Marlborough on 28 August to watch the finals of the Young Vit competition - albeit in very muddy conditions. And, at the Bragato Wine Awards dinner, local chap Stuart Dudley from Delegat's was announced the winner in front of a very happy home crowd. Congratulations! And also to Nick Paulin, runner up.
For several years, winejobsonline.com has given glassware to the placegetters in the regional (and national) competitions. We love celebrating the success of young wine people and are thrilled to be able to announce the 2010 results.
Marlborough's Young Vit winner was - again - Stuart Dudley of Delegat's. And, again as in 2009, Nick Wright also of Delegat's was runner up. Jacqueline Maclaurin of Wither Hills took 3rd place.
The Central Otago regional competition was held on Friday 16 July - and the winners are!:
1st - Nick Paulin ; 2nd - Duncan Gibson; 3rd - David Salmon
The annual round of the Markhams Young Viticulturist of the Year Awards got underway in Hawkes Bay on Friday 25 June. winejobsonline.com again sponsored glassware to the winners:
1st Paul Robinson Villa Maria Estate
2nd Johnny La Trobe Sacred Hill
3rd Nick Otto Delegats
Matt Fox from Gisborne came fourth and qualified for the Nationals on behalf of his region.
Regional comps for Marlborough and Central Otago are to be held over the next few weeks with the final being held in Marlborough at the Bragato Conference, 28 August.
winejobsonline.com were sponsors of the regional competitions in 2008 so we had lots of happy winners who seemed pleased to receive their glassware gifts. We've done the same thing in 2009 - for Central Otago, Marlborough, Hawkes Bay, and Wairarapa regional winners.
Congratulations to
Stuart Dudley - Delegat's (1st), Nick Wright - Delegat's (2nd) and Simon Clark - Clark Viticulture (3rd) in Marlborough;
Mike Wing - Alex Paddocks (1st), Len Ibbotson - Grape Vision (2nd) and Murray Petrie - McArthur Ridge (3rd) for Central Otago;
and from Hawkes Bay Caine Thompson - Mission Estate (1st), Tony Verry - Grower (2nd) and Paul Robinson - Villa Maria (3rd);
with Charles Simmons representing Martinborough.
Well done everyone, and good luck to the regional winners for the National Final held in conjunction with Bragato, 22 August.
winejobsonline.com is delighted to be sponsoring the Buyer's Choice Winemaker award at Wine New Zealand 2008. Another great way we can show our support for the achievements of the people in our industry. We look forward to the announcement of the winner on 2 September 2008.
AND THE WINNER IS:.............. Congratulations Emma Taylor, Villa Maria Viticulturist, on your achievement, and good luck for the Young Horticulturist of the Year award to be held in November 2007. (which she won, by the way!!)
Emma Taylor, Young Viticulturist of the Year 2007 with Heather Battersby
L - R Regional Winners Nigel Sowman, Pip Wither, Emma, Charles Simons
www.winejobsonline.com was one of the sponsors for the regional and national finals of the 2007 competition and donated a trophy made from a vine kindly provided by Bruce Corban and planted by his late father Joe more than 20 years ago. Congratulations to Nigel Sowman (Marlborough), Pip Wither (Central Otago), Emma Taylor (Hawkes Bay) and Charles Simons (Wairarapa) regional finalists, as they battle it out for the National award on 25 August 2007. Grateful thanks to Spiegelau glassware and wotif.com for their sponsorship support of this event.
Young Viticulturist of the Year trophy
After the success of the beer tasting at Hallertau Brewery in 2006, www.winejobsonline.com sponsored the 2007 final year students from Lincoln University to a tour and tasting in August 2007. Brewer Stephen Plowman again showed off his finest beers - and brewery - and a good time was had by all. After visiting more than a dozen wineries in four days, the students were all wined out so a few ice cold beers hit the right spot.
Pictured enjoying a few quiet beers at Hallertau Brewbar in August 2007 are, L to R - Spencer Spetnagel, Alice MacKenzie,
Mike Morley-Bunker (Lincoln University Senior Lecturer) Stephen Plowman (Hallertau Brewer),
Heather Battersby (www.winejobsonline.com), Katrina Sutherland (Nobilo Wine Group), William Dean, Gavin Clements,
Angela Ronald (Babich Wines)
It was Cheers and beers all round when final year students and tutors from Lincoln University's Viticulture and Oenology Department headed North on their annual tour of Hawkes Bay and Auckland wineries. And winejobsonline.com came to the party by sponsoring a visit to Hallertau Brewbar in Riverhead, West Auckland. Brewer Stephen Plowman conducted a tasting of his boutique beers and the students gave their palates a rest from a week's winetasting with a glass or two of their favourite. Who says there's no such thing as free beer? (And Hallertau is a fabulous place to drink it - Go there and try it for yourself!)
L - R: Vicky Bennett, Becs Cope, Stephen Plowman (Hallertau Brewer), Heather Battersby, (winejobsonline.com), Janey Fisher, Kirsten Creasy (Senior Tutor, Oenology, Lincoln University)
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www.winejobsonline.com is owned and run by Paddy and Heather Battersby,
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