Congratulations to Georgia Mehlhopt from Greystone in Waipara who was crowned the 2025 South Island Regional Young Viticulturist of the Year on 26 June. This competition is open to contestants from Nelson, North Canterbury and Waitaki. Georgia will go through to the national final proudly representing North Canterbury.
Congratulations also goes to Lisa Fromont from Te Kano in Waitaki who came second and Emma Lloyd also from Greystone who came third. They both demonstrated a wide range of viticultural knowledge and skills, scoring highly in many of the sections.
Grace Moriarty won the BioStart Hortisports race and Joshua Irving won the challenging Pest and Disease section. This shone a light on the high calibre of the talented, young people coming through in these regions.
Georgia took out the Ecotrellis trellising prize as well as winning several of the other sections including best speech and interview. Emma Lloyd received the Ormond Professional Reputation Award for her strong communication skills and impressive ‘can do’ attitude throughout the challenges.
The competition took place at Tiki Wines in Glasevin, North Canterbury where the contestants rotated around various challenges including irrigation, nutrition, pest and disease, budgeting, machinery, pruning, wine tasting and undertaking an interview.
Fruitfed Supplies generously provided a delicious lunchtime BBQ following the BioStart Hortisports.
The contestants finally delivered their speeches at the Awards Dinner held at Waipara Springs where guests enjoyed welcome drinks in the beautiful garden surrounded by fairy lights, followed by a delicious three course meal inside.
The 2025 national final will be held at Greystone in Waipara on 27 August, so Georgia is sure to have a strong, local support crowd. The 2025 New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the Year will then be announced at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 28 August.
The national finalists will have the opportunity to compete for some great prizes, including a $6,000 Ecotrellis Travel Grant, a Leadership Week, and tickets to the Cool Climate Symposium. A BioStart Hortisports winner will also be announced, along with other cash prizes.
Georgia has previously represented North Canterbury when she competed last year in the 2024 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year national final, which she ultimately won. Making it through to the nationals in viticulture highlights her all-around knowledge of winegrowing from start to finish. She is only the second person in the history of the competitions to make it through to both national finals. Matt Fox competed in the 2016 Young Winemaker national finals and won the 2013 Young Viticulturist of the Year competition.
The competition is made possible thanks to the following generous sponsors: BioStart, Ecotrellis, Ford, Fruitfed Supplies, Agritrade, Clemens, Constellation Brands, Delegat, Empak, Fendt, Indevin, Klima, Ormond Nurseries, Roots, Shoots & Fruits, Waterforce, NZSVO, New Zealand Winegrowers, and Winejobsonline.
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For further information or photos contact:
Nicky Grandorge
Leadership & Communities Manager, New Zealand Winegrowers,
021780948
nicky.grandorge@nzwine.com
View the Young Viticulturist website here.
New Zealand Winegrowers images can be found here.