EIT student Jonathan Musther and Chief Executive Chris Collins with his Hawke’s Bay A & P Mercedes-Benz Wine Award.

Talented EIT student Jonathan Musther won top accolades in Hawke’s Bay A & P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards.

As with all competition entries, wines in the student class were judged to international standards. Jon’s 2009 botrytised Chardonnay, The Mongoose, claimed gold and also the EIT Best Student Wine Trophy.

A final-year Bachelor of Viticulture and Bachelor of Wine Science Concurrent Degree student, Jon has a track record of A passes despite an inherited condition that seriously impairs his vision.

Chairman of Judges Rod McDonald said the overall standard of student entries was high.

“All the judges were most impressed by Jonathan’s wine, and not only with its purity but also because of the technical requirements involved in making dessert wines. They’re among the most challenging from a technical point of view.”

The regional wine competition’s student category is open to all educators, and this year all ten wines were from EIT and seven attracted awards. Head of School Diane Marshall pointed out that many of the 19 trophies awarded were accepted by EIT graduates.