The Silver Secateurs and Young Viticulturist Release (27 Aug 2007)

YOUNG VITICULTURIST OF THE YEAR AND SILVER SECATEURS AWARDS
ANNOUNCED

Emma Taylor has been named 2007 Young Viticulturist of the Year as part of the 13th
annual Romeo Bragato conference.

Also awarded at the conference was Aranna Paul of Hawke’s Bay, who has been
named winner of the national Silver Secateurs Grape Vine Pruning Competition for
2007 for Individual Pruning.

Viticulturist of the Year
Emma Taylor from Villa Maria in the Hawke’s Bay was delighted to accept this award after progressing through a rigorous judging process to take the esteemed title for
2007.

The competition is judged over a number categories including pruning ability, general
viticultural knowledge, and budgeting and machinery skills. Emma showed outstanding knowledge in these areas to win the title for 2007.

The Young Viticulturist of the Year competition provides up and coming talent the opportunity to progress their skills and networking ability.

Silver Secateurs
This year, Aranna won the Bahco Individual Pruning Trophy with his attention to
detail and outstanding pruning knowledge.

Other trophy winners include Andrew Stove of Matua Valley Wines in the Hawke’s
Bay who won the Pernod Ricard Tying Trophy, while Matua Valley Wines won the
Team Trophy.

The competition, run in conjunction with the Romeo Bragato conference, is designed
to encourage high standards and recognise the skills of New Zealand pruners.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said pruning is an integral
part of producing premium wine and the Silver Secateurs competition is an
opportunity to acknowledge this skill.

“Being able to perfectly prune a grapevine is an art. There are many skills such as
tying, cutting, balancing and recognising vine health which are needed in order to
correctly prune and contribute towards high-quality wine,” he said.

The Silver Secateurs and Young Viticulturist of the Year Awards are held in
conjunction with the Romeo Bragato conference, which discusses the role science,
technology and innovation plays in grape growing and wine making.

For further information please contact:

Philip Gregan
Chief executive
New Zealand Winegrowers
Phone: (09) 306 5555
Mobile: (021) 964 564

or

Marie Pilkington
nbpr
Phone: (09) 354 0554
Mob: 027 434 7977