Marlborough winemakers claim national young professional titles

Nick Lamain of Isabel Estate and Kris Godsall of Cloudy Bay have been named the 2026 Young Winemaker of the Year and 2026 Young Viticulturist of the Year, respectively. Both winners represent the Marlborough region.

The winners were announced at the New Zealand Wine 2026 Celebration Dinner in Wellington following national finals held in late August. The Young Winemaker competition evaluated candidates on laboratory theory, wine chemistry, fault-finding, blind tasting, and carbon footprint reduction strategies. The Young Viticulturist competition included practical tests such as machinery operation, vineyard tours, leadership challenges, and cost-saving scenarios.

In the viticulturist category, Heath Miller from Pask placed second, followed by Joshua Irving of Lincoln University in third. Other finalists included Alex Coombs and Braxton Benseman. In the winemaker category, Aaron Coxhead and Joshua Irving were also recognized. The winners are scheduled to attend Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 and the Organic Winegrowers Conference next June.