New Zealand’s Young Viticulturist of the Year, Cameron Price.

EIT’s wine industry students and graduates have garnered top placings in recent national and regional events.

School of Viticulture and Wine Science head Diane Marshall says EIT has a proud record for educating high achievers. Cameron Price is a stellar example. The New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the year is working for Villa Maria in Hawke’s Bay while studying part-time for his Bachelor of Viticulture.

EIT Bachelor of Wine Science graduate Alex Roper, part of the Mission Estate winemaking team, was runner-up in the New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year. These successes build on regional competitions which attract strong participation by EIT-educated winemakers and viticulturists.

Alex was one of three EIT graduates/students in a field of six entered in the Hawke’s Bay Young Winemaker of the Year competition. Third placed was Brad Frederickson, a Bachelor of Wine Science and Bachelor of Viticulture graduate who works for the Hawke’s Bay Wine Company.

Five of the eight entered in the Hawke’s Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year were graduates or are studying at EIT. Cameron and two other EIT-educated viticulturists claimed all three top spots.

Alex Roper, Hawke’s Bay’s Young Winemaker of the Year and runner-up in the national competition.

Runner-up was Anton Luiten, who combines Bachelor of Viticulture studies with a position at Selak’s (Constellation Brands). Third-placed Jascha Oldham-Selak is concurrently studying the wine science and viticulture degrees.

EIT students also claimed top placings in the Wairarapa and Marlborough Young Viticulturist competitions. Online Bachelor of Wine Science student Mark Langlands, working for Te Kairanga, was the winner of the Wairarapa event while online Bachelor of Viticulture student and Craggy Range employee Scott Lanceley-Cockram was runner-up.

Brenton O’Riley, who completed EIT degrees in viticulture and wine science, is a two-time winner of the Marlborough competition.