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First-year student Lindis McMurray has struck Gold with her Albariño, while second-year student Emma Thompson uncorked a Bronze medal with her Gewurztraminer.
Emma’s Gewürztraminer stood out for its distinctive lanoline aroma, quinine hints, moderate length, and a fruit-driven style with a touch of phenolic complexity. Meanwhile, Lindis’s Albariño impressed the judges with its high floral and citrus aromatics, plush fruit character, and great weight.
“I thought it tasted delicious,” says Lindis. “But I can’t believe I was awarded a Gold. It’s such an amazing feeling!”
Originally from Scotland, Lindis spent the last decade climbing the ranks in the culinary world to become a head chef in Mount Maunganui. But her passion for wine led her to a fresh start in Blenheim.
“I wanted a change and have always been passionate about wine,” she says. “I applied online at NMIT and packed up everything—including the cat— making the move to Marlborough to follow the dream.”
Lindis chose NMIT because the Marlborough region is renowned for its vineyards and winemaking.
“I wanted to experience Marlborough and be involved in this community,” she says.
Speaking about creating her wine, Lindis describes the phenomenal support from her NMIT tutor, Jonathan Guild, her fellow classmates, and the creative freedom to explore the process.
“We decided when to harvest our chosen grape variety, and with Jono there helping us out we tasted and tested every day throughout the fermentation process.”
“To add complexity, I decided to age my wine on lees, meaning I aged the wine on top of spent yeast,” Lindis says.
For Lindis, who had never worked in a winery before, the 40 Gold-winning bottles she produced are just the beginning of her winemaking journey.
“In the long run, I’d love to head back to Europe and own my own winery,” she says. “But for now, I’m focused on winemaking in New Zealand—getting a few vintages under my belt as a winemaker or assistant winemaker.”
Emma’s fruity, off-dry style Gewürztraminer received an impressive bronze medal, an achievement she couldn’t be happier with.
“I was ecstatic,” Emma says. “It really caught me off guard, but I couldn’t be prouder of my efforts.”
She pushed herself to create a wine she was truly proud of, which was part of one of her Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking courses, after learning that she could enter it in the student category at the Marlborough Wine Show.
“I produced around 46 bottles in the end. All winemaking decisions were made by myself with the support of my tutor Jono.”
Emma is considering further study in soil science after this degree.
“It’s definitely a challenging degree but the support from your tutors is amazing. They’re always there to help you or find an easier way of understanding that works for you.”
With NMIT’s blend of theory and hands-on experience, Lindis and Emma are poised to crush it in New Zealand’s vibrant wine industry.
Cheers to the next generation of winemakers!
For more information about the NMIT Viticulture and Winemaking programmes, visit the NMIT website(external link).
