Who will become the 2023 Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year?

The Young Viticulturist of the Year competition celebrates the future of viticulture. We are pleased to introduce you to the contestants competing in the Marlborough competition 6th July 2023.

Aaron Hood, Constellation Brands Ltd

Aaron Hood is a 22-year-old with viticulture in his blood. Raised in Marlborough, his work began at his parent's vineyard where he worked part-time to afford to study at university, this is where he found his love of the vines and outdoors. Opting instead to leave university and begin following his interest in viticulture, he has worked two vintages, as a harvester operator, and as a supervisor in the Kim Crawford Winery and is currently a cadet with Constellation Brands, learning new skills and taking in a fresh perspective on the industry.

Gordon Browne, Vit Management Ltd

Gordon Browne, 24 years of age has a background in the dairy industry. He started his journey in the wine industry in December 2020 with Villa Maria Estate before making the recent move to Vit Management Ltd where he will be working as a Machine Operator.

Since 2020 Gordon has found his love for the industry in the job itself, the people, the mentorship, and the machinery and stands by a quote he was told upon entering viticulture which is “Without good people, we won’t have good grapes”. This is Gordon's first year entering Young Viticulturist of the Year and he is thoroughly looking forward to learning as much as he can, as well as meeting some keen folks in the field and giving it a ‘red-hot’ go.

Harry Panesar, Spring Creek Vintners

Harry Panesar is 29 years old and Technical Viticulture Manager for Spring Creek Vintners. He originally studied automobile engineering, but a passion for viticulture and falling in love with NZ land and wine led him to study the Diploma in Viticulture and Winemaking in 2015 at NMIT, Blenheim.

Harry has worked nine vintages and is currently continuing part-time study towards the Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking. When he isn’t working in the vineyard you can find him practising his mixed martial arts or guitar.

Henri Steele, Spring Creek Vintners

Henri Steele is a 24 year old cellar hand/laboratory technician at Spring Creek Vintners. New Zealand born, dairy farm raised, her love for all things wine began when here family moved to Marlborough in 2017. Henri graduated from NMIT in 2021 with a Degree in Viticulture and Winemaking, whilst studying Henri worked for a viticultural contractor covering a wide variety of vineyard sites, furthering her knowledge and passion for the industry. This knowledge has deepened over her five vintages, including time in California. This is Henri’s first time entering the Young Viticulturist competition and is looking forward to the challenge and meeting fellow contestants.

Josh Anderson, Mount Base Vineyards

Josh Anderson is 29 years old and the Operations Manager at Mount Base Vineyards.

Growing up in Taihape he has a background in sheep and beef farming and spent nine years in the commercial apiculture industry before making a shift south to discover the viticulture industry four years ago. Josh has completed Primary ITO NZC level 3 & 4 Horticulture Fruit Production. He is passionate about maximizing the use of the land in and around the vineyard, improving biodiversity and minimizing impacts of the environment and his goals are to be a Vineyard manager. Outside of work he spends time with his family and friends, shooting clay birds, fishing or hunting.

Laura Hammond, Cloudy Bay Vineyards

Laura Hammond, Assistant Vineyard Manager at Cloudy Bay is a fifth generation Marlborough farmer. With a keen interest in all living creatures in the vineyard ecosystem, Laura has had a lifelong love for insects and biodiversity. Each season she brings an optimistic and curious approach to work, always eager to learn and collaborate. Over five years ago, she left her job at a pizzeria and brewery in Nelson, returning to her roots for a season in the vines and has never looked back.

Liv Bishop, Delegat/Oyster Bay

Liv Bishop is a 24 year old vineyard operations supervisor for Delegat's Fault Lake vineyard in Marlborough. In 2022 her love of learning prompted her to begin studying towards a Graduate Diploma in Viticulture through the Eastern Institute of Technology. Although a year and a half still remain on her current studies, Liv doesn't see herself stopping there, with plans to persue further education in the field of soil sciences. When she is not at work, or studying, Liv enjoys all things outdoors. Be it mountain biking, diving, fishing or pack rafting, she is always happiest when outdoors.

Zac Howell, Villa Maria | Indevin

Zac Howell holds a graduate position at Indevin Group. This role has seen Zac work across multiple functions within the business, from winemaking to technical viticulture. A recent secondment to the Vineyard Transformation Team, resulted in Zac being involved in the planning and coordination of machine harvest this year, which was a challenging and rewarding experience.

Outside of work, Zac is in his final year of studies at NMIT, working towards a bachelor of viticulture and winemaking. Zac also enjoys keeping fit and active and volunteers his time over the summer to assist with coaching the Marlborough Boys College Rowing team.

This will be Zac’s third time competing in the competition in as many years, and as ever, he is looking forward to meeting the other competitors, catching up with the sponsors, and working through all the challenges the day has to offer.