YOUNG VITS
WINE PERSONALITY OF 2012 TESSA NICHOLSON Braden Crosby
W
hile this is usually announced at the end of each year, NZWinegrower decided to hold off announcing the annual Personality of the Year until now. 2012 was a turning point for the industry, tough in terms of growers dealing with climatic conditions, low yields, low prices and the ramifications of a number of years of higher than average crops. For wineries the exchange rate added stress to the already hurting bottom lines. Yet by December there was a sign that maybe the tide was turning, that the industry was on a slow road back to something that could be viewed as positive. (Although there has been no let up in the value of the high New Zealand dollar unfortunately.) One of the standouts of the year, and to be fair not just 2012, but many Caine Thompson
years beforehand, has been the dedication and passion shown by the wide range of viticulturists during the tough times. Especially the younger ones that have come into the industry with a yearning to be the best they possibly can. Therefore, NZ Winegrower would like to acknowledge those that have tirelessly worked to control yields, produce quality fruit and maintain the premium position that New Zealand wine has created for itself. New Zealand’s Young viticulturists are the 2012 Wine Personality of the Year. As the New Zealand wine industry grew exponentially in the 90s and early 2000s, so too did the need for qualified personnel. The days of small holdings, run and managed by the owner, were gone. People who had no intimate knowledge of growing
grapes were buying vineyards, to firstly supply wine companies and later to create their own wine labels. While the larger companies have always invested in viticultural managers, now there was a need for smaller companies to also look towards
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NZ WINEGROWER FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013
employing expertise. The educational sector came to the party with an emphasis on viticulture as well as oenology. A new breed of young viticulturist was emerging. Given the maxim that all good wine is