Auckland (Commonwealth Union)_A 28 year old winemaker, who has been in the wine making industry for thirteen years, won the prestigious title of 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year. Alun Kilby, a production winemaker from Marisco Vineyards in Marlborough, was chosen from among the four top young winemakers in New Zealand to wear the coveted crown.
The national finals were held at Kim Crawford Winery in Blenheim.
Runner up at the competition was Georgia Mehlhopt, who made history by becoming the first person from North Canterbury to compete in the national finals. Douw Grobler from Trinity Hill in Hawke’s Bay, and Eliana Leal from Amisfield in Central Otago were the other contenders for the title.
Alun’s experience stretches from Auckland to Central Otago to Marlborough where his passion and commitment to continuously improve winemaking and global distribution is on top of his agenda. His prize included a cash award of NZD 1,000, being an Associate Judge in the New World Wine Awards, a review of his favourite wins in DrinksBiz magazine and a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey cooperage in Burgundy.
Very impressed by the high caliber of the finalists, the judges stated that each demonstrated not just passion for winemaking but also possessed a great understanding of the challenges and opportunities of New Zealand’s wine industry overall. The finalists were tested on wine market knowledge and laboratory skills and preparation of a plan for the production of a premium single-vineyard pinot noir. The testing process also had the contestants present their views on the best innovations of the industry, sit for an interview and evaluate options for a new humidifier in a cellar.
Of course, no winemaking competition is complete without wine tasting and judging, which each of the contestants did with panache. This was done in a wine show setting.
The finale included a Fruitfed Supplies speech at a gala awards dinner which had to convince guests why each contestants’ region deserved first place and how they would promote the region to international visitors.
