Haere Ra 2024: Waiheke
Leon Henson, Vineyard Manager at Batch Winery and Auckland's Young Viticulturist of the Year 2024, looks at the year that was.
Three of the five have previously competed in the national final, while another was crowned 2024 Young Winemaker of the Year last year.
New Zealand Winegrowers Leadership & Communities Manager Nicky Grandorge says the final is set to be an exciting competition. “The fact several of them keep coming back highlights their tenacity and determination to win this prestigious title.”
It will be the 20th anniversary of the Young Viticulturist of Year competition, making it a “particularly special” year to win, Nicky says.
James Sutcliffe, from Craggy Range in the Wairarapa, was crowned the 2025 North Island Regional Young Viticulturist of the Year, having already represented Wairarapa in the 2024 national final. The regional competition was open to contestants from Auckland, Northland, Gisborne, and Wairarapa. Braxton Benseman from Man O’ War Vineyards on Waiheke Island came second and Gagandeep Singh, from Babich in Auckland, was third. Braxton also took out the Ormond Professional Reputation Award, which recognises a competitor in each regional competition. Ormond Nurseries’ Samantha Wickham says the award looks beyond viticulture measures, at positive character traits recognised by judges or attendees during the day, such as good communication, tenacity, integrity, or simply being well mannered and helpful. “I love it,” she says. “It’s a way to encourage those qualities.”
Nick Putt, who has had intermittent breaks from the competition while pursuing other career paths, was named 2025 Hawke’s Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year, having previously won the title in 2019 and 2023. Heath Miller from Pask Wines came second, with Joe Stenberg from Te Mata Estate taking third place. Hawke’s Bay has taken out the national title more than any other region, with six previous winners.
Anna Kelland, from Constellation Brands, won the Marlborough competition for the second year running, as well as the Geoff Warmouth cup for the BioStart Hortisports. Laura Hammond, from Babich, came second, with Harry Watson, from Berakah Vineyard Management, taking third place.
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The winner of the 2025 South Island regional competition was Georgia Mehlhopt, Assistant Winemaker at Greystone in Waipara. She was the 2024 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year and is only the second person in the history of the competitions to make it through to both national finals. The South Island event is open to contestants from Nelson, North Canterbury and Waitaki. Lisa Fromont from Te Kano in Waitaki came second and Emma Lloyd, also from Greystone, was third.
Damon Lovell, Vineyard Manager at Carrick, came first in the Central Otago competition, followed by Felix Jordan from Gibbston Valley Winery in second place, and Matt Hurnen from Rippon Vineyard in third. During the 20 years of the national competition, Central Otago has brought home the national trophy four times.
The 2025 New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the Year will be announced at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 28 August. The national finalists will compete for prizes that include a $6,000 Ecotrellis travel grant, a leadership week, and tickets to the Cool Climate Symposium. A BioStart Hortisports winner will also be announced.
