Young Viticulturist and Winemaker of the Year finalists are gearing up to “battle it out” at the national finals in Martinborough this month. Five finalists will compete in the 2026 Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year competition at Escarpment on Wednesday 26 August. The 2026 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year national finalists will compete at Foley’s The Runholder on Tuesday 25 August. The final challenge for all the competitors will be to deliver their speeches at the New Zealand Wine 2026 Wine Business Forum and Celebration Dinner on 27 August. In addition to cash prizes, the young viticulturist prize pool includes the Ecotrellis Travel Grant, BioStart Hortisports and Syngenta Biologicals Nutrition prizes, a ‘Leadership Week’, artwork and associate judge at the National Wine Awards.