Bannockburn winery Felton Road employee Nina Downer came third for her research at the national final for the young viticulturist of the year this week. 

Nina previously took out the top regional honour as Central Otago’s young viticulturist of the year to qualify for the final held in Marlborough on August 30 and 31.

She said she was “really happy” with third place for the project which consisted of a written report and a ten minute presentation to a judging panel. It covered ideas on how to reduce tractor passes and carbon emissions in the vineyard.

“I looked into… disease resistant grape vines, converting to electric run machinery with frost fans and permanent undervine plantings of herbs such as thyme.

“As an industry we spray on average 13 tractor passes a year… for fungal diseases.”

Having disease resistant grapevines such as those found in Europe can reduce tractor passes down to two, she said.

Nina said the undervine herb plantings were something that hasn't been trialled much before, and that she and the team at Felton Road would be looking into it further.

“Undervine plantings of herbs would remove the need to spray herbicides… this removes at least three tractor passes, as well as thyme essential oil has amazing antifungal and insecticidal properties… reducing the need to use conventional chemicals,” Nina said.

Tahryn Mason (Villa Maria, Marlborough) was named overall Young Viticulturist of the Year. It was his second attempt at the title, originally competing in the Northern region in 2019 when he was working at Villa Maria in Auckland.

Martinborough’s Escarpment’s Katie Cameron came second and Tai Nelson from Soljans Estate in Kumeu came third. 

New Zealand Winegrowers leadership and communities manager and national competition coordinator Nicky Grandorge said it was very rewarding to see young vits grow and progress over the years. 

“The competition helps them focus on studying and upskilling as well as opening many doors for them. It is fantastic to see the passion…for viticulture and their determination to win this competition. It’s tough but comes with so many rewards.”

Tahryn will go on to represent the wine industry in the 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.

The Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition is in its seventeenth year. The competition is based on six regional events, culminating in a national final.  

The entrants face practical and theoretical questions on pruning, netting, machinery, pests and diseases, budgeting, nutrition, wine knowledge, trellising and an interview. They go head to head in a hortisports race, a quickfire buzzer round and also give a speech at the awards dinner.  

An aerial view of The Elms, one of Felton Road’s vineyards in Bannockburn. PHOTO: Supplied

Read an earlier story about Nina here.