Dingying Jiang From Kahiwi Is The 2025 Central Otago Young Winemaker Of The Year
Dingying won the Constellation Brands Laboratory Section as well as the blending and wine knowledge sections; Maia took out the Indevin Wine Judging Section, and Emma won the In Market Presentation Section; Felix the Cellar Challenge; Paiqi the …
Congratulations to Dingying Jiang from Kahiwi who became the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year following the competition held on 31 July at VinPro in Cromwell.
Congratulations also go to Paiqi Cao from Amisfield, who came second, and Maia Wylie from Monte Christo, who came third.
The other contestants were Emma Lloyd, Greystone; Felix Jordan, Gibbston Valley, and Celina Viazzi Zabalza, Amisfield. All six contestants came top in at least one section, demonstrating the high calibre of emerging young winemakers in the region.
Dingying won the Constellation Brands Laboratory Section as well as the blending and wine knowledge sections; Maia took out the Indevin Wine Judging Section, and Emma won the In Market Presentation Section; Felix the Cellar Challenge; Paiqi the Essay section, as well as being awarded the Professional Reputation Award. Celina took out the Vin Olympics at lunchtime. This was followed by a sizzling Fruitfed Supplies BBQ.
The final challenge was to give their Fruitfed Supplies Speech at the Awards Dinner held at the Stoaker Room, and this was won by Emma Lloyd, who argued whether wine was made in the vineyard or the winery, concluding it was a happy marriage between the two.
As the overall winner, Dingying won a $1,000 cash prize and a Fruitfed Supplies Field Trip. Paiqi won $750 cash for coming second, and Maia won $500 for placing third.
Dingying will head to the National Final at Lincoln University on 26 August to compete against the winners from the Marlborough and Hawke's Bay competitions. The national finalists will then deliver their speeches at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 28 August, when the overall winner will also be announced.
'I won't let Central Otago down', she says, determined to bring the trophy back to the region. Having worked overseas as well as in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, she has now settled in Central Otago and says, 'I've fallen in love with this beautiful region and its unique energy'.
The finalists will compete not only for the prestigious title of the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year, but also for an amazing prize package which includes a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey (cooperage) in Burgundy, being an associate judge in the New World Wine Awards, and reviewing wines in DrinksBiz magazine. There is also the opportunity for the finalists to win prizes for the Constellation Laboratory Section, the Indevin Wine Judging Section, and the best Fruitfed Supplies Speech.
The competition is made possible thanks to the generous support of all our sponsors: Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, Constellation Brands, Indevin, FMG, Lab Supply, Laffort, Tira Crown, Visy, Winejobsonline, New World, New Zealand Winegrowers, The New Zealand Society for Viticulture and Oenology (NZSVO), and Pacific Rim Oenology.
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Press Release – New Zealand Winegrowers Dingying won the Constellation Brands Laboratory Section as well as the blending and wine knowledge sections; Maia took out the Indevin Wine Judging Section, and Emma won the In Market Presentation Section; Felix the Cellar Challenge; Paiqi the … Congratulations to Dingying Jiang from Kahiwi who became the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year following the competition held on 31 July at VinPro in Cromwell. Congratulations also go to Paiqi Cao from Amisfield, who came second, and Maia Wylie from Monte Christo, who came third. The other contestants were Emma Lloyd, Greystone; Felix Jordan, Gibbston Valley, and Celina Viazzi Zabalza, Amisfield. All six contestants came top in at least one section, demonstrating the high calibre of emerging young winemakers in the region. Dingying won the Constellation Brands Laboratory Section as well as the blending and wine knowledge sections; Maia took out the Indevin Wine Judging Section, and Emma won the In Market Presentation Section; Felix the Cellar Challenge; Paiqi the Essay section, as well as being awarded the Professional Reputation Award. Celina took out the Vin Olympics at lunchtime. This was followed by a sizzling Fruitfed Supplies BBQ. The final challenge was to give their Fruitfed Supplies Speech at the Awards Dinner held at the Stoaker Room, and this was won by Emma Lloyd, who argued whether wine was made in the vineyard or the winery, concluding it was a happy marriage between the two. As the overall winner, Dingying won a $1,000 cash prize and a Fruitfed Supplies Field Trip. Paiqi won $750 cash for coming second, and Maia won $500 for placing third. Dingying will head to the National Final at Lincoln University on 26 August to compete against the winners from the Marlborough and Hawke's Bay competitions. The national finalists will then deliver their speeches at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 28 August, when the overall winner will also be announced. 'I won't let Central Otago down', she says, determined to bring the trophy back to the region. Having worked overseas as well as in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, she has now settled in Central Otago and says, 'I've fallen in love with this beautiful region and its unique energy'. The finalists will compete not only for the prestigious title of the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year, but also for an amazing prize package which includes a visit to the Tonnellerie de Mercurey (cooperage) in Burgundy, being an associate judge in the New World Wine Awards, and reviewing wines in DrinksBiz magazine. There is also the opportunity for the finalists to win prizes for the Constellation Laboratory Section, the Indevin Wine Judging Section, and the best Fruitfed Supplies Speech. The competition is made possible thanks to the generous support of all our sponsors: Tonnellerie de Mercurey, Fruitfed Supplies, Constellation Brands, Indevin, FMG, Lab Supply, Laffort, Tira Crown, Visy, Winejobsonline, New World, New Zealand Winegrowers, The New Zealand Society for Viticulture and Oenology (NZSVO), and Pacific Rim Oenology.
