Central Otago wine industry celebrates leaders and achievers

The outstanding achievements of Central Otago’s wine industry leaders were celebrated at an awards dinner this weekend.
 
The 2016 Feraud Dinner and Awards saw winemaker and Rippon Vineyard co-owner Nick Mills presented with the evening’s most prestigious award for Outstanding Services to the Central Otago wine industry.
 
Nick made winning the award a family affair when he joined industry visionaries including his parents Rolfe and Lois Mills – in receiving it. Both Rolfe and Lois received the award individually, making Nick the third Mill’s family member to be honoured with the award.
 
Other wine pioneers with their name on the award over the years include Alan Brady, Steve Green, Ann Pinckney, Rudi Bauer, Robin Dicey, Heather McPherson and Martin Anderson.
 
Nick’s award highlighted his leadership in the Central Otago wine industry and in particular the work he has done in establishing and growing Central Otago’s relationship with the Burgundy region in France. 
 
James Dicey, president of the Central Otago Winegrowers Association and Central Otago Pinot Noir Ltd, said he was “thrilled” to present the award to someone who contributed “above and beyond” in supporting the industry’s growth and development.
 
“We received a number of nominations for this year’s award which meant we had to make tough choices but Nick stood out based on everything that he has achieved and contributed.”
 
Mr Dicey said Nick had headed up the Rippon team since 2002 but had been part of it since its early beginnings. He had a professional ski career cut short by injury but then headed to France for four years of working and studying, learning his craft at some of the most famous Domaines in the region.
 
Returning to Wanaka, he wasted no time in introducing biodynamic practices to Rippon where he and the team became renowned for their passion for Otago winegrowing, creating enduring vineyards and fine wines.
 
Mr Dicey said Nick and his family had gone on to develop and cement an “exceptional relationship” between Burgundy and Central Otago.
 
“The Central Otago Burgundy Exchange celebrated its 10^th anniversary this year, and Nick worked tirelessly to support Burgundy in gaining its UNESCO World Heritage status. Not bad for a ski bum from Wanaka!”
 
The dinner – named after Jean Feraud who planted the first commercial vines outside of Clyde in 1865 - also marked the launch of four new awards designed to recognise the contributions of other outstanding individuals in the region.
 
COWA General Manager Glenys Coughlan said the new awards acknowledged those who “made a difference” in how the industry performed and was perceived, enabling Central Otago to shine on the international stage.
 
Ms Coughlan presented the Marketing Champion Award to Steve Farquharson, who she said “stood out” as someone who was on every marketing committee and was always willing to step in and provide sound promotional advice.
 
“As stunning as our wines may be, if they didn’t appeal to wine consumers and critics then we’d all be sitting on a mountain of wine and there’d be a very large gulf between that mountain and the markets we compete in, so promoting the Central Otago Wine brand is critical,” she said.
 
The Industry Know How award went to Blair Walter for his work in raising the bar on education and innovation. “It’s great to be able to acknowledge the work he’s done in guiding the Master Class programmes we run and the more technical aspects of the way our wines are presented,” she said.
 
Ms Coughlan said the Young Gun award needed to acknowledge the emergence and contribution of younger talent in the industry. She presented it to Nick Paulin, the only person from Central Otago to have won the national Young Viticulturist of the Year. Nick has gone on to lead the Young Viticulturist competition in Central Otago and is leader of the Young Growers Group.
 
Last but not least, the Good Sort award went to Morley Hewitt from VinPro for providing wide-ranging support to the industry. “From small beginnings, VinPro has continued to invest in their facilities and processing capabilities and they provide a significant level of support to the industry in other ways as well,” said Ms Coughlan.