Central Otago's best young viticulturist is gearing up for a third and final tilt at a national title.
Mike Winter will represent the region at the Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition in Blenheim next month after beating seven others at the regional contest in Cromwell on Friday.
He has now won the title three years in a row, but the march of time means he has only one more shot at the national title.
Mr Winter, assistant vineyard manager at Amisfield winery near Lake Hayes, turns 30 next week, which means he will be ineligible to enter next year.
Despite finishing runner-up in the national final two years ago, he told the Otago Daily Times he was not overly confident about his chances next month.
"It's a big step up - you're competing with the best of the best from the other regions.
"You never know what they're going to throw at you.''
The national final will be held in Blenheim on August 23-25, with other contestants coming from Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Wairarapa.
The winner will get $2000 cash, a $5000 travel scholarship, the use of a Hyundai vehicle for a year and the opportunity to meet wine industry leaders.
Last Friday's regional contest, which was hosted by Otago Polytechnic, involved a mix of theoretical and practical activities including tractor driving, irrigation, spray calibration, trellising, pruning and wine tasting.
Contestants were grilled on their goals and vision for the future of the national wine industry, while in the evening they delivered a speech and took part in a quiz.
Runner-up was Simon Gourley, from the Central Otago Wine Company. Annabel Bulk, of Felton Road winery, was third.
