NZ Sommelier Scholarship participants announced

By Andrew Catchpole

Published: 14 November, 2018

New Zealand Winegrowers has confirmed 18 recipients of its 2019 International Sommelier Scholarship, designed to encourage on-trade ambassadors for the country’s wines.

The successful somms, drawn from across 10 countries and including Melania Battiston of 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen in London, will attend a two day ‘Sommit’ in Hawkes Bay this January, where they will learn about the “lesser known aspects of New Zealand wine”.

The 11 day trip will also cover the International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration in Marlborough and the Chardonnay and Sparkling Wine symposium in Gisborne.

UK Master Sommelier Ronan Sayburn and New Zealand Master of Wine Stephen Wong will head up the Sommit, which will focus on aspects of Kiwi wines that are particularly relevant to the on-trade.

“At the end of their experience we hope the scholars will share personal wine discoveries and insights from their trip with their customers and the wider sommelier community – something we simply cannot replicate in a classroom. We look forward to them becoming true ambassadors for New Zealand wine,” said New Zealand Winegrowers’ global marketing director Chris Yorke.

While global sales of New Zealand’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc remain strong, the country is keen to communicate the broader diversity of its vinous offer and its wine regions, with the Scholarship forming a key part of that marketing objective.

New Zealand Winegrowers Sommelier Scholarship has so far hosted five Sommit events for 79 sommeliers from 15 countries.

The recipients of the 2019 International Sommelier Scholarship are:

•Arneis Wu, Joel Robuchon (Shanghai)

• Kerry Qin, Bellagio Hotel (Shanghai)

• Mathias Camilleri MS, CE LA VI (Singapore)

• Matthew Dunne, Solotel (Sydney)

• Emma Farrelly, State Buildings (Perth)

• Stephanie Jacob, Supernormal (Melbourne)

• David Murphy, One Penny Red (Sydney)

• Bridget Raffal, Sixpenny (Sydney)

• Véronique Rivest, SOIF Wine Bar (Quebec)

• Luca Gagliardi, Pierchic Restaurant (Dubai)