Congratulations to Alex Coombs from Craggy Range, Martinborough, for becoming the 2026 Ormond Nurseries North Island Regional Young Viticulturist of the Year on 4 June. This was his third year competing, and with more viticultural experience following a year overseas, the 22-year-old returned with a strong focus and determination to take out the title. He studied hard and felt incredibly proud to raise the trophy at the end of the day.
Congratulations also go to Gagandeep Singh from Babich in Auckland, who came second.
The North Island regional competition is open to contestants from Auckland, Northland, and Wairarapa. The other two contestants were Phattaradanai Wannaphirun (Neil) from Dry River in Martinborough and Santiago Mendez Gasca from Paroa Bay in Northland.
All four contestants shone in various sections of the competition, highlighting their personal strengths.
Alex took out both the head-to-head races at lunchtime – the Ecotrellis trellising section and the BioStart Hortisports. The contestants were cheered on by a local crowd, before everyone enjoyed a sizzling BBQ from Fruitfed Supplies.
Alex also won the Syngenta Biologicals Nutrition section.
Gagandeep won best speech as he engaged the audience while they enjoyed a delicious dinner at Moy Hall, Martinborough.
Santiago demonstrated his broad viticultural knowledge by coming top in the quiz, handling some pretty tough questions on pest and disease, grafting, and general wine industry statistics.
Phattarandanai won the Ormond Nurseries Professional Reputation Award for his positive attitude, personal growth, confidence, and polite, friendly manner.
The contestants also undertook an interview, data analysis, machinery, and spray calibration challenges.
Alex will now go through to the National Final to compete against the winners from the Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, South Island Regional, and Central Otago competitions. The National Final will be held at Escarpment, Wairarapa, on Wednesday, 26 August, so Alex will be on home turf, with plenty of local support.
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, Alex 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, Gagandeep 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 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 sixth largest export good
- New Zealand wine exports for 2024 were $2.1 billion
- View reports and statistics here