Nick Putt From Craggy Range Wins Hawke’s Bay Young Viticulturist Of The Year 2023

Congratulations to Nick Putt, Hawke’s Bay Vineyard
Manager at Craggy Range, who became the Hawke’s Bay Young
Viticulturist of the Year 2023.

The competition took
place in beautiful winter sunshine at Paritua Estate on
Thursday 15th June. Eight contestants rotated around a wide
range of viticultural questions and challenges including
pruning, irrigation, trellising, nutrition and an
interview.

Congratulations also goes to Douw Grobler
from Trinity Hill who came second and Daniel Brewster from
AONZ who came third. The judges were impressed with the
knowledge and drive of all the contestants who really gave
it their all. The other contestants were Joseph Stenberg,
Shuang Wu, Maddie Griffith, Thalia Osborne and Jaspel
Singh.

At lunchtime, they all went head to head in the
BioStart Hortisports which was followed by a BBQ feast laid
on by Fruitfed Supplies.

The Awards Dinner was held at
Mission Estate where the contestants had a quick fire quiz
and delivered their speeches, covering a wide range of wine
industry topics.

Craig McDougall, Head Coach and
Mentor at Hastings Giants Boxing Academy, was the guest
speaker and the audience was captivated by his inspirational
speech. He highlighted the power of how a sense of belonging
brings self belief, which leads to being the person you want
to be and following your dreams. A sense of community and a
supportive environment are key to people reaching their
potential and enjoying happy, healthy lives.

“This
is a very important aspect of the Young Vit programme too”
says Nicky Grandorge, National Co-Ordinator. “There is a
real sense of sponsors, contestants and wine industry
members really wanting to help each other grow. It’s very
special.”

Ollie Powrie, one of the country’s
leading viticulturists and now producing his own wines in
Hawke’s Bay – Chateau Garage Wines – kept the evening
running smoothly as MC.

Nick Putt, 27, will represent
Hawke’s Bay in the National Final at the end of August.
This is being held in Hawke’s Bay this year, so he will
have a big home crowd behind him. He will compete against
five other contestants from Auckland, Wairarapa,
Marlborough, N. Canterbury and Central Otago.

There
were some great prizes won across the board including a
Fruitfed Supplies Educational Trip and AEG power tools for
Nick, who also scooped up the BioStart Hortisports and
Ecotrellis section prizes. Douw won $750 cash and an NZSVO
Educational Experience and Daniel Brewster won $500 cash.
Other section prizes included vouchers for Crab Farm and
Linden Estate, who are working hard to recover from the
Cyclone Gabrielle.

Nick will now be in with the chance
of winning even greater prizes at the National Final. These
include a Hyundai Kona for a year, an Ecotrellis travel
grant, a Leadership Week, Electrocoup electronic secateurs
and AEG power tools and cash.

The competition is made
possible thanks to all the sponsors involved: BioStart,
Ecotrellis, Hyundai, Agritrade, Constellation Brands, Empak,
Fruitfed Supplies, Fendt, Klima, Ormond Nurseries, Roots,
Shoots & Fruits, Villa Maria-Indevin, Waterforce, AEG,
NZSVO and
Winejobsonline.

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