The activities tested the skills of five young viticulturists around the district and, 12 hours later, the winner of the Central Otago Markhams Young Viticulturist of the Year was decided.
Nick Paulin (Felton Road Wines), of Bannockburn, won the title, with Duncan Gibson (Peregrine), of Arrowtown, second and David Salmon (Kawarau Estate), of Alexandra, third.
Mr Paulin will attend the national final at the Romeo Bragato conference in Blenheim on August 28.
The regional final was held at the Otago Polytechnic's vineyard block near Cromwell.
Organiser Gael Laurie, of the Central Otago Winegrowers Association, said the contest was going from strength to strength.
"Excuse the pun, but it's continuing to grow and that's a good thing for the industry."
She paid tribute to Polytechnic viticulture tutor Raewyn Paviour, who had organised the event for the previous four years.
Miss Laurie said the contestants were tested on practical tasks such as pruning, constructing trellis, installing irrigation and driving vineyard machinery.
They were asked to identify pests and diseases, complete a budgeting exam, tested on wine-tasting skills, quizzed on their general knowledge and had to give a speech.
