Young Viticulturist of the Year drives off in brand new Hyundai Santa Fe
28 October, 2016: Cameron Price the winner of the Young Viticulturist of the Year competition 2016 is thrilled to
receive a Hyundai Santa Fe as part of his prize package. He will have full use of the vehicle for a whole year. It is
appropriately “grenache” coloured – one of the more unusual red grape varieties that Price nurtures on the Villa Maria
vineyards where he works.
The vehicle was presented to him at the Bayswater Hyundai Dealership. Hyundai have been sponsoring the Young Vit
competition for the last three years and in that time the prestigious Bayer Young Viticulturist title has been taken out
by a Hawke’s Bay finalist, a genuine hat-trick for the region. Paul Robinson also from Villa Maria won the competition
in 2014 and Caleb Dennis from Craggy Range took it out in 2015. It is becoming a familiar sight therefore to see a Young
Vit branded Hyundai Santa Fe cruising around The Bay.
“Having full use of a Hyundai Santa Fe as part of the prize package really spurs on the contestants. It is an amazing
incentive and adds an extra buzz to the competition as the contestants all want to get behind the wheel of this
fantastic car.” says Nicky Grandorge, National Co-ordinator, Young Viticulturist of the Year competition. “We are
extremely grateful to Hyundai for their enthusiastic support of the competition and New Zealand’s future viticultural
leaders”
Andy Sinclair, General Manager for Hyundai New Zealand added “This is a fantastic competition for us to be involved with
and we are delighted to support the up and coming viticultural leaders of New Zealand. As a New Zealand owned company,
we’re pleased to be supporting the Wine Industry as it’s one of New Zealand’s key export industries and this pro-active
event ensures there will be talented young vits to help drive it successfully into the future.”
The competition is run regionally in Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, Marlborough, Central Otago and Wairarapa during June and
July with the winner from each region going through to the very challenging National Final held in August. It is a
highly regarded title and the contestants have worked extremely hard to achieve this award. They are tested on all
aspects of vineyard management including practical and theoretical questions, as well as delivering a speech to wine
industry leaders at an evening dinner. In other words, everything involved in being a Vineyard Manager from soil
nutrition and disease control right through to budgeting and public speaking.
The aim of the Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year competition is to help grow the future leaders of the New Zealand
wine industry and everyone who enters benefits from building their confidence and skill base as well as starting to make
a name for themselves.
These three winners have been over the moon with this amazing prize of full use of a Hyundai Santa Fe for a whole year.
“The Santa Fe prize is a massive incentive to enter the competition. It was an awesome experience to be driving such a
great car around for the year and representing Hyundai and the competition along the way.” Paul Robinson, Young
Viticulturist of the Year 2014.
“Winning the Santa Fe was certainly one of the best prizes that I came away with, it’s a fantastic wagon and it will be
a very sad day when I hand it back!” Caleb Dennis, Young Viticulturist of the Year 2015.
"This is a fantastic prize and was an added incentive during the competition. I know I'm going to enjoy driving around
in luxury for a whole year" Cameron Price, Young Viticulturist of the Year 2016
Price goes on to represent the wine industry in the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition in November. He will of
course be driving up to Auckland for the competition in his Hyundai Santa Fe.
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