A total of six contestants will compete for the National Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year - the largest number yet.
Anthony Walsh from Constellation, who became the Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on Thursday, will contest the national final with other finalists including Anton Luiten, who triumphed last month as the Hawke's Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Luiten grew up with wine on the dinner table, but said he only became a fan of it since starting his studies at EIT.
So far he had worked more in the viticulture side of winemaking than the laboratory, but is heading to the United States later this year to do a vintage in the cellar of a winery owned by his employer, Constellation Brands.
At 29 this was the last year Walsh could enter so he was more determined than ever to take out the title this year as it was his last opportunity to go through and represent Marlborough in the national final. He is thrilled all his hard work paid off.