Alun Kilby from Marisco in Marlborough has been named the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, following the National Finals in Blenheim.

Kilby, 28, is Production Winemaker at Marisco.  He has worked in the New Zealand wine industry for 13 years, from Auckland to Central Otago, before settling in Marlborough. He says he is thrilled to take out the prestigious title and committed to continuously improving the way New Zealand makes wine and distributes it to the world.

Four young winemakers from around the country competed on Thursday 3 November at Kim Crawford winery in Blenheim. 

Second place went to Georgia Mehlhopt from Greystone, who was the first person from North Canterbury to compete in a National Final. The other two contestants were Douw Grobler from Trinity Hill in Hawke’s Bay and Eliana Leal from Amisfield in Central Otago.

The judges said they were very impressed with the high calibre of the finalists, all of whom demonstrated a huge passion for winemaking and a great understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the New Zealand wine industry as a whole.     

The finalists were tested on their wine market knowledge and laboratory skills on Finals day. They had to prepare a plan for producing a premium single vineyard Pinot Noir, present their views on the best new innovations in the wine industry, undergo an interview, weigh up options for purchasing a new humidifier for a cellar and then expertly judge wines in a wine show setting.

Finally, they delivered their Fruitfed Supplies speech at the Awards Dinner at Wither Hills, aiming to convince the audience that their wine region was the first place our returning international visitors should visit when they arrive. 

Alun Kilby won best Fruitfed Supplies speech and Georgia Mehlhopt won the Villa Maria-Indevin Wine Judging section.

Along with the title of 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year, Kilby also won $1000 cash,  a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey cooperage in Burgundy, will be an associate judge in the New World Wine Awards and will review some of his favourite wines in an issue of Drinksbiz magazine in 2023.

Each finalist took home a very special bottle of Church Road’s TOM and will meet up again early next year on an educational trip hosted by Fruitfed Supplies.

The competition is made possible by all the generous sponsors:  Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, Villa Maria-Indevin, Laffort, Programmed Property Services, Tira Crown, Visy, New World, Winejobsonline, NZSVO and Pernod Ricard.