It is with great pleasure that we announce that Mudbrick Winemaker, Patrick Newton (33 years old) has taken out the Riedel Young Winemaker of the Year for the second consecutive year in a row.

Patrick Newton of Mudbrick Winery has taken out the New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year Competition for the second year in a row.

The Competition is run in association with the Canterbury A&P Show and compliments the International Aromatic Wine Competition with judging taking place in late September. The Young Winemaker winner was announced during a function at the Canterbury A&P Show on 12 November.

Thirty-three year old Mr Newton was named as the first ever Young Winemaker of the Year in 2014 and this year took out the top spot again with a 2014 Chardonnay, a 2014 Syrah and a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mr Newton took over as winemaker at Mudbrick Winery in 2011 after completing a Bachelor of Viticulture and oenology at Lincoln University and spending six years honing his craft in both New Zealand and overseas.

Mr Newton said that winning for the second time was “quite humbling.”

“The wines produced at Mudbrick are a team effort between the vineyard and the winery. Everybody plays their part in producing the best wines possible. Winning the competition for the second year in a row reinforces that Mudbrick are producing some of New Zealand’s top Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blends.

“A great deal of my success comes down to having the best vineyard manager on Waiheke Island – Nick Otto. Nick’s dedication in producing grapes that reflect both the vintage and a sense of place is second to none.”

Mr Newton said he chose to enter the competition as contestants are judged purely on the wines entered.

“The New Zealand Young Winemaker Competition is unique in that you are judged solely on the wines you produce. This was the perfect venue to put my skills as a winemaker to the test.”

Young Winemaker entrants had to be under 35 years of age. All entrants submitted three wines, a biography and a short essay on the submitted wines.

There were five other finalists this year: Lauren Swift from Ash Ridge Wines (Hawke’s Bay), Heinrich Storm from Goldie Wines (Waiheke Island), Daniel Struckman from Batch Winery (Waiheke Island), Simon Clark from Clark Estate (Marlborough) and Chloe Parkinson from Cable Bay Vineyard (Waiheke Island).