Lauren Swift, Winemaker, Ash Ridge, is an EIT graduate and won the national title in the first year of the competition – 2015.

EIT is flying all flags at the Tonnelliere de Mercurey North Island Young Winemaker of the Year competition, with five of the seven entrants either current students or graduates. The annual competition is also being hosted at EIT, using School of Viticulture and Wine Science facilities and drawing on the expertise of staff to assist in judging.

The winner, to be announced at a three-course dinner to be held on Friday, 27 July, at Church Road winery, will progress to the national finals in Auckland on 20 August.

The competition, which provides the winner with a great prize package that includes travel, is always hotly contested.

EIT graduates and students have featured prominently among the place-getters, both regionally and nationally.

Both graduates of EIT, Ash Ridge winemaker Lauren Swift won the national title in 2015, the first year for the competition, and Alex Roper, a winemaker at Mission Estate, was runner-up in 2016. Sara Addis was runner-up last year while still studying at EIT.