Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
13 minutes ago
EIT Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science student Katelyn Church, EIT CEO Lucy Laitinen and NZME breakfast broadcaster Adam Green.
The recent Hawke’s Bay Wine Awards held at Napier’s Conference Centre, was a night of celebration worth toasting. EIT has been part of the oldest regional wine competition in the country for decades, as a sponsor, venue, and the hands behind the glasses.
EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen says the awards night is a reminder of how deeply EIT’s roots run in the region’s wine industry.
“Many of the winemakers and viticulturists working across Hawke’s Bay today trained here at EIT, and our students learn alongside some of the best in the industry, often at the very wineries where they go on to build their careers.”
“That relationship has been more than 20 years in the making, and you see it at its best when the Hawke’s Bay Wine Awards judging comes to our campus and our students are in the room with the region’s top winemakers,” says Lucy.
She said she was proud to see two of EIT’s emerging viticulture and wine science talent recognised on the night.
EIT Assistant Head of School, Primary Industries, Viticulture and Wine Science, Lisa Turnbull, says the scholarship selection committee was most impressed by this year’s Craggy Range Young Vintner Scholarship recipient Autumn Parker’s passion for the industry and clear vision for the future.
“Autumn embraced both the academic and practical aspects of her studies and demonstrated the qualities that employers are looking for in the next generation of wine professionals. This scholarship helps bridge the gap between study and industry, giving students opportunities that can help shape the direction of their careers.”
Lucy Laitinen presented the Best Student Wine Award to 3rd year Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science student, Katelyn Church for her Albariño wine.
Tim Creagh, EIT’s Viticulture and Wine Science lecturer, has coordinated the judging for years and sits on the Wine Awards committee alongside winemakers from Sacred Hill, Clearview Estate, Church Road and Easthope Family Winegrowers.
Judging took place over two days at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale, wrapping up with a sponsor and industry tasting event. School of Viticulture and Wine Science staff and students act as stewards for the judging, a hands-on experience Tim believes is vital to their education.
“EIT has been involved with the Hawke’s Bay A&P Wine Awards since 2001, and it’s great to see our students playing such an important role. They do the hard work behind the scenes, checking and preparing the wines, working with the judging panels and making sure everything runs smoothly,” says Tim.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/06/eit-students-make-their-mark-at-hawkes-bay-wine-awards/