Hawke's Bay's best young viticulturists compete at socially distant competition

Sam Bain has been crowned Hawke's Bay's Young Viticulturist of the Year, with a spot in the national final. Photo / Paul Taylor

Sam Bain has been crowned Hawke's Bay's best young viticulturist at a socially distant competition.

The Corteva Hawke's Bay Young Viticulturist of the Year 2020 competition was held
behind closed doors at Te Awa winery on Thursday.

Bain, from Constellation Brands, was one of eight of the region's top young viticulturists to participate in the annual event, finishing ahead of Nick Putt from Villa Maria and Trinity Hill's Douw Grobler, who placed second and third respectively.

Casey Motley from Te Mata, Villa Maria's Sarah Hunt, Kurt Kelly from Craggy Range, Church Road's Robbie Golding and Sam Sherratt from Kokako Farms also participated.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern moved New Zealand to alert level 2 on Wednesday, and Auckland moved to alert level 3 after four cases of community transmission were discovered on Tuesday.

Work and school are allowed to continue with physical distancing, but gatherings of more than 100 people are now prohibited.

New Zealand Winegrowers leadership and communities' manager Nicky Grandorge said the event had to be dramatically adapted to take place "on a smaller scale".

"There were no supports allowed, so it was much smaller with only contestants and judges in attendance," she said.

"But we were very grateful the competition could still go ahead."

The Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition is now in its 15th year and aims to provide viticulturists aged 30 years and under the chance to upskill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry.

Grandorge said the Silver Secateurs element of the day, developed to recognise the skills of pruners, was cancelled, along with the awards dinner.

"Obviously everyone is following contact-tracing regulations, social distancing and we have many hand sanitising stations set up," she added.

"Our priority is everyone's health and safety, so we adapted accordingly."

Regional organiser Paul Robinson said although it was a much quieter competition than usual, the contestants created a "positive and upbeat" atmosphere.

The competition is based on six regional competitions, culminating in a national final, set to take place in Martinborough on October 7 and 8.

The national winner, who will be crowned NZ Young Viticulturist of the Year 2020, will also win a Hyundai Kona for a year, an Ecotrellis travel grant, a Corteva educational trip to Australia, Bahco golden secateurs, a leadership week and cash.