Two Marlborough wine industry professionals have topped the sector’s 2026 young achiever awards.
Nick Lamain, 30, from Isabel Estate, is the 2026 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker ofthe Year, and Kris Godsall, 24, from Cloudy Bay, is the 2026 Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Competition organiser New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) says congratulations are also in orderfor the runners-up in each category.
Heath Miller from Pask in Hawke's Bay, came second in the Young Viticulturist competition, andJoshua Irving from Lincoln University placed third.
The other Young Winemakers were Aaron Coxhead from Coxhead Wines in Waikato/Bay ofPlenty, and Joshua Irving from Lincoln University.
Irving is the first-ever contestant to compete in both the Young Viticulturist and YoungWinemaker national finals in the same year.
Nick Lamain says the win felt surreal.
“I’ve been part of this competition for the past five years, and it has challenged me, built myconfidence, and played a huge role in shaping my career.
To cap off that journey by taking out the national title is an incredible honour, and a moment I’llbe proud of for a very long time.”
Fellow winner Kris Godsell says it’s a lot to take in: “It’s a prestigious title to win, and all the hardwork has paid off.”
The national finals are a big step up from the qualifying regional finals, and competitors weretested on the wide range of skills and knowledge required to be an aspiring winemaker orviticulturist.
For the Young Winemakers, this included the Constellation Brands Laboratory Section and theIndevin Wine Judging section, both won by Nick Lamain.
They also gave a presentation on how the wine industry could continue to reduce its carbonfootprint.
They finished by delivering their Fruitfed Supplies speeches about wine tourism opportunitiesat theNew Zealand Wine 2026 Wine Business Forum.
Challenges for the Young Viticulturists included machinery, an interview, a mock vineyard tour,and a leadership challenge.
They also had to write a report and give a presentation on cost savings in the vineyard andpreparing for a potential super El Niño.
They went head-to-head in the Ecotrellis trellising section, which was won by Heath Miller, aswell as the BioStart Hortisports, taken out by Kris Godsall. They finished by delivering theirspeeches to a large industry crowd at theNew Zealand Wine 2026 Celebration Dinner.
Kris Godsall won a prize package including a $6,000 Ecotrellis Travel Grant, a leadership week, apiece of artwork and cash.
Nick Lamain also won a range of prizes and experiences, including a trip to Burgundy to visit theTonnellerie de Mercurey (cooperage), a piece of artwork, the opportunity to be an AssociateJudge at the New World Wine Awards, and reviewing wines for Drinks Biz Magazine.
Fruitfed Supplies is providing a field trip for all the Young Viticulturist and Winemaker nationalfinalists, so they can continue to upskill and reconnect post-competition.
Organisers say the competitions are made possible thanks to many volunteers and thegenerosity of sponsors.
Young Viticulturist sponsors are: Ormond Nurseries, BioStart, Ecotrellis, Syngenta Biologicals,Fruitfed Supplies, Constellation Brands, Empak, Fendt, Indevin, Klima, Lowe, Waterforce, TheNew Zealand Society for Viticulture and Oenology (NZSVO), DrinksBiz and NZW\.
Young Winemaker sponsors are: Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, ConstellationBrands, Indevin, Albatrans, FMG, Laffort, MCC Labels, Visy, Lallemand, Pacific Rim Oenology,NZSVO, New World, DrinksBiz and NZW.