Felton Road’s Callum Scarborough (24) placed second and was named the Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year at the regional competition in Cromwell on August 6. 

The Central Otago competition, held at VinPro in Cromwell, is also open to contestants from North Canterbury and Waitaki. 

Greystone Wines’ assistant winemaker Georgia Mehlhopt won the regional competition and became the North Canterbury Young Winemaker of the Year.

This is the second time she has won the competition and title, which she previously won in 2022.

Georgia and Callum both go through to the national final to represent their respective regions.

Max Jing from Burn Cottage came in third.

Other contestants were Gibbston Valley’s Felix Jordan and Maddy Gamble from Felton Road who also demonstrated winemaking skills and industry knowledge.

Felton Road’s second contestant was 23-year-old Maddy Gamble, who is from Dunedin, but moved to Bannockburn in 2023 to begin her career in wine. PHOTO: NZ Young Winemaker

Georgia, Callum, Felix and Max have all also entered the young viticulturist of the year competition and Maddy is planning on entering it next year too. 

This highlights their knowledge of the whole wine production process from start to finish as well as their strong ambition to stretch themselves and grow their careers in the New Zealand wine industry.

The young winemakers were tested on many aspects of wine production, which included laboratory tests, wine assessment, wine industry knowledge and undertaking an interview. 

They were also tasked with creating a pinot noir blend and pitching it to a panel. 

Their final task was to deliver a speech at the awards dinner held at Kinross in Gibbston Valley.

Along with a cash prize, Georgia won the speech and laboratory section, and a field trip to be held later in the year. 

Callum took out the wine judging section, Vin Olympics, and came first with Max in the People’s Choice, where guests blind tasted and voted for their favourite pinot noir blend.

There were three regional finals this year in the North Island, Marlborough, and Central Otago. 

Winners of each regional final go through to the 2024 Young Winemaker National Final which will be held on August 27 in Martinborough.

The national finalists will give their speeches at a wine business forum at Te Papa on August 29 and the winner will be announced at the celebration dinner that night.

As well as being crowned the 2024 NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, the national winner wins a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey (cooperage) in Burgundy, and a spot as an associate judge in New World’s Wine Awards and review wines in a magazine.

The competition is in its ninth year and is open to those under 30 involved with wine production. This includes cellar hands, cellar managers, those working in the laboratory, assistant winemakers and winemakers.

For more information see the competition details here.