News
The Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition 2026 is now in its 21st year and is taking place on Thursday 28th May. This competition provides a fantastic opportunity for viticulturists 30 years or under to up-skill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry.
Eight young Marlborough contestants will undergo a mix of practical and theoretical modules from pruning to Budgeting. They go head-to-head in the BioStart Hortisports event, a quick-fire quiz as well as give a speech at the awards dinner.
We are pleased to introduce the Marlborough viticulturists competing in the 2026 Marlborough competition.
A special display offering a taste of the best of Marlborough’s subregions has been set up at the Wine + Food Experience in the heart of Blenheim.
Four wines featured in the display are the first of many champion wines set to be showcased at the recently opened venue, having received trophies at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
They include the Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys, Central Express Ltd Champion Wairau Valley & Interpack Champion Riesling, Circuit Logistics Champion Awatere & South Marlborough, and Winequip Champion Sparkling trophy winning wines of the show.
Nearly 100 wines have been awarded gold medals at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
Ninety-one golds were awarded - the highest number since records began in 2012, following a stellar 2024 vintage and stunning weather conditions leading into the 2025 harvest.
Chief Judge Stu Marfell said the 2024 season had been a hard act to follow, and that this year’s entries included Pinot Noir and Chardonnay entries of that vintage.
Fifteen judges will taste 622 wines entered into the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, this week.
Chief Judge Stu Marfell will be joined by a further 12 local judges, as well as out of region guest judges Sam Kim and Toni Paterson MW, in assessing the wines over three days starting Wednesday.
“We’re extremely pleased to have both of these talented and knowledgeable wine experts on the panel this year, Sam as a returning guest judge, and Toni for the first time,” he says.
Tickets for the next Marlborough Wine & Food Festival on Saturday 14 February 2026 are now available, as New Zealand’s original wine and food festival gears up for its 39th year.
Festival event manager Loren Coffey is delighted to announce Troy Kingi and Kaylee Bell will be headlining the day’s live music offerings.
Congratulations to Ruby McManaway from Yealands, Marlborough, who is the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year. Congratulations also to Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands, who is the 2025 Young Viticulturist of the Year.
The winners were announced at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on Thursday, 28 August.
The Young Winemaker national finals were held on 26 August at Lincoln University, and the Young Viticulturist national finals were held at Greystone, Waipara, the following day.
Winepress
Established in 1991, Winepress is the longest running wine publication in New Zealand, reporting the latest news, information & research in the Marlborough wine industry. For Winepress Advertising please contact Jo May. For Winepress subscriptions please contact us here.
