Congratulations to Joshua Irving for becoming the 2026 Ormond Nurseries North Canterbury Young Viticulturist of the Year on 18 June. Having competed for the first time last year, Joshua was back with a vengeance, taking out nearly all the sections. “I learnt where my weaknesses were last year and worked hard to upskill in those areas”, he says, delighted that the practice and study had paid off.
The 28-year-old is soon to graduate with a Bachelor of Viticulture & Oenology (Honours) from Lincoln University and has worked on various Waipara vineyards. He has also worked as a Viticultural Technician on the Bragato Research Institute’s 2.0 Sauvignon Blanc vineyard.
Congratulations also go to Mackenzie Cassidy from Pegasus Bay, who came second, scoring well across the board.
The other two contestants were Grace Moore from Tiki Wines and Athena Marchussen from Greystone. All four contestants threw themselves into the day, highlighting their ambition to progress their careers in viticulture.
It was the perfect winter’s day, crisp but sunny, as the contestants worked their way around the challenges at Tiki Vineyards near Amberley. The four young viticulturists completed tasks on irrigation, machinery, nutrition, wine knowledge and data analysis, as well as undertaking an interview.
At lunchtime, they went head-to-head in the Ecotrellis trellising section and the BioStart Hortisports before some very welcome hot soup and a BBQ provided by Fruitfed Supplies. Joshua took out both these sections, demonstrating his practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge, including the Syngenta Biologicals Nutrition prize.
Grace Moore won the Ormond Nurseries Professional Reputation Award and was recognised for her friendly, positive attitude, as well as showing excellent communication skills in the build-up to the competition.
Joshua will now go through to the National Final to compete against the winners from the Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, North 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.
From this regional competition, Heath 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 well as cash, Mackenzie 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 New Zealand Winegrowers, 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 eighth-largest export good
New Zealand wine exports for 2024 were $2.1 billion
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