Congratulations to Kris Godsall from Cloudy Bay, who became the 2026 Ormond Nurseries Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on 28 May. The 25-year-old was thrilled to raise the trophy and delighted that his hard work had paid off.
Congratulations also to Harry Watson from Berakah Vineyard Management, who came second, and Isaac Langley from Pecchenino Viticulture Services, who came third. The competition was tight at the top, and all the contestants gave it their all, whilst competing with great respect and support for each other.
“The rapport between the contestants as they strive to win but also encourage each other is a really special part of the Young Vit competition,” says Nicky Grandorge, Leadership & Communities Manager at New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW). “Relationships like this strengthen our industry as we prepare for the future.”
Congratulations also go to Cameron Hunter from Matua, who won the Professional Reputation Award, impressing the judges with his exceptional positivity and thirst to learn.
In contrast to running around in torrential rain last year, this competition took place under clear blue skies in the vineyards at Whitehaven.
This year, the Ecotrellis trellising section went head-to-head, followed by the infamous BioStart Hortisports. A large industry crowd came along to support the contestants for these races as well as enjoy a delicious lunch kindly laid on by Fruitfed Supplies.
Kris Godsall won both the trellising and Hortisports sections.
The contestants also rotated around practical and theoretical challenges, including pruning, irrigation, machinery, pest and disease, nutrition, data analysis, and participating in an interview.
The Syngenta Biologicals Nutrition Section was won by Harry Watson, who, according to the judges, “smashed it”.
A tough viti quiz and speeches took place at the Awards dinner the same evening, before the winners were announced.
The seven contestants gave it their all, impressing the judges with their knowledge and positive energy. They were Harry Watson, Berakah Viticulture Management; Isaac Langley, Pecchenino Viticulture Services; Kristopher Godsall, Cloudy Bay; Brandon Jewun, Thornhill; Cameron Hunter, Matua; Daniell Hare, Indevin; and Tyler Whitt, Spring Creek Vintners.
Kris will now go through to the National Final to compete against representatives from the winners of the North Island Regional, Hawke’s Bay, South Island Regional, and Central Otago competitions. The National Final will be held at Escarpment, Wairarapa, on Wednesday, 26 August, and the 2026 Ormond Nurseries New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the Year will be announced at the New Zealand Wine 2026 Celebration Dinner at Takina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Wellington, on 27 August.
He won a Fruitfed Supplies Field Trip plus $1,000 and will compete for even greater prizes at the National Final. These include a $6,000 Ecotrellis Travel Grant, a Leadership Week, and tickets to Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 and the 2027 Organic Winegrowers Conference.
As runner-up, Harry Watson also won an educational trip from The New Zealand Society for Viticulture and Oenology (NZSVO).
The competition is made possible thanks to the following generous national sponsors: Ormond Nurseries, BioStart, Ecotrellis, Syngenta Biologicals, Fruitfed Supplies, Constellation Brands, Empak, Fendt, Indevin, Klima, Lowe, Waterforce, NZSVO, and NZW, as well as all the supportive regional sponsors.
-Ends-
For further information contact:
Nicky Grandorge
Leadership & Communities Manager, New Zealand Winegrowers,
+64 21 780 948
Nicky.Grandorge@nzwine.com
View the Young Viticulturist website here.
New Zealand Winegrowers' images can be found here.
EDITOR NOTES:
NEW ZEALAND WINEGROWERS
New Zealand Winegrowers is the national organisation for the country's grape and wine sector, with over 600 grower members, 700 winery members, and directly employing over 7,000 New Zealanders each year. nzwine.com
NEW ZEALAND WINE
- New Zealand wine is exported to more than 100 countries
- New Zealand produces just over 1% of the world’s wine
- New Zealand wine is New Zealand’s sixth largest export good
- New Zealand wine exports for 2024 were $2.1 billion
- View reports and statistics here