Brenton O’Riley has just been named ‘Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year 2016’. O’Riley has worked at Giesen Wines for the last few years as Viticultural Technician and credits his time and experience there as helping him gain some of the high level knowledge and skills required to win the competition. He is due to start a new job at Pernod Ricard in a grower liaison role at the beginning of next month.
This is the second time O’Riley has won the Marlborough competition (previously in 2014), so he will be even more determined this year to win the National Final taking place locally at Villa Maria in August.
The Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition is about growing the future of the New Zealand wine industry by helping develop and nurture potential viticultural leaders. Contestants are rigorously tested on their overall viticultural knowledge and skills.
The National Final will be held on 23-25 August, in conjunction with Bragato. O’Riley will compete against the winners from Auckland, Central Otago, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.
The national winner not only gains the title of Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year, but an amazing prize package of $2000 cash, a $5000 AGMARDT travel scholarship, a Hyundai Santa Fe for an entire year, wine glasses and a leadership week where they meet some of the top leaders in the New Zealand wine industry. They also go on to represent viticulture in the Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition.
The forthcoming regional competition dates are:
Hawke’s Bay – 7 July, Te Awa
Central Otago – 22 July, Cromwell Polytechnic
Wairarapa – 28 July, Te Kairanga
