PAULA HURBURT
A winemaker with a passion for improving the industry has been named as the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year.
Alun Kilby, 28, is a Production Winemaker at Marisco in Marlborough.
Having worked in the New Zealand wine industry for 13 years, Alun says he is thrilled to take out the prestigious title and committed to improving the way NZ wine is made and distributed to the world.
Four talented young winemakers from around the country competed on Thursday 3 November at Kim Crawford winery in Blenheim.
The other contestants were Douw Grobler from Trinity Hill in Hawke’s Bay, Eliana Leal from Amisfield in Central Otago and Georgia Mehlhopt from North Canterbury who came in second.
The finalists were put through their paces throughout the competition day, tested on their wine market knowledge and laboratory skills.
They had to prepare a plan for producing a premium single vineyard pinot noir, present their views on the best new innovations in the wine industry, undergo an interview, weigh up options for purchasing a new humidifier for a cellar and then expertly judge wines in a wine show setting.
A final Fruitfed Supplies speech was delivered at the Awards Dinner at Witherhills, where the competitors had to convince the audience of the benefits of overseas visitors coming to their wine growing region.
Judges say the high caliber of all finalists was clear.
Alun Kilby won best Fruitfed Supplies speech and Georgia Mehlhopt won the Villa Maria-Indevin Wine Judging section.
Apart from becoming the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, Alun won $1000 cash, a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey cooperage in Burgundy, and will be an associate judge in the New World Wine Awards.
He will also get the chance to review some of his favourite wines in DrinksBiz magazine.
All finalists took home a very special bottle of Church Road’s Tom and will meet up again early next year on an educational trip hosted by Fruitfed Supplies.
The competition is made possible by all the generous sponsors: Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, Villa Maria-Indevin, Laffort, Programmed Property Services, Tira Crown, Visy, New World, Winejobsonline, NZSVO and Pernod Ricard.
