One enterprising New Zealand wine student swaps Southern Hemisphere winter for Italian summer.
©EIT | Casey McIntosh plans to travel to Conegliano this summer and enjoy Italian hospitality.
After an exciting 2023, Viticulture and Wine Science students from New Zealand are looking forward to new experiences as they head to Italy later this year as the first of the Wine Searcher Braggart Exchange Scholars.
Casey McIntosh, 28, is in her final year of a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and wine science at EIT/Te Pukenga, but is starting her career in the industry at her current Villa Maria winery in Hawke’s Bay. I am trying to complete the program part-time while working. Written by Indevin.
Wine-Searcher has a new major sponsor, and the exchange is now known as the Wine-Searcher Bragato Exchange Scholarship. Other sponsors are PGG Wrightson, Taradale Rotary Club and Otatara Trust. Established in recognition of New Zealand’s historical links with Italy’s Conegliano region, it is named after Romeo Bragato, who was influential in identifying potential wine growing regions in the region and studied in that region of Italy. I did. This is commemorated by an academic partnership between EIT/Te Pukenga and the University of Padua.
The exchange began in 2003, with Italian students visiting New Zealand in August, spending time at EIT/Te Pukenga and visiting New Zealand’s wine regions, EIT/Te Pukenga students visiting Padua, and then We offer you the opportunity to travel around New Zealand. Italian wine area hosted by alumni during Italian summer.
The award follows Northland native Casey’s 2nd place in the 2023 Tonnererie de Mercury North Island Young Winemaker of the Year following a competition held at Gimblett Gravels Winery in Indevin. It will be awarded after the important year of 2023.
She said she is excited for next year.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have received the Wine Searcher Braggart Exchange Scholarship. I am extremely grateful to EIT/Te Pukenga and our generous sponsors for providing this wonderful opportunity. ” she said.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I don’t think it will hit me until I’m there, drinking Prosecco in the sun. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and soaking up Italian culture.”
Renee Dale, wine expert at Wine Searcher, said: “It’s great that the exchange maintains such high interest and has such a strong pool of applicants.”
“It was very difficult for the selection committee to choose between them. All candidates showed great potential and each had their own unique story and perspective, but Casey in particular “And they had a solid understanding of what that experience would be like.” “You’ll develop the skills of a future winemaker.” I look forward to following her journey in the second half and on exchange over the next few years.”
Renee, who became the first female Blaggart exchange student in 2006, is also encouraged by the large number of female applicants this year.
Sue Blackmore, Head of EIT/Te Pukenga School of Viticulture and Wine Science, said: “We are excited that this exchange continues to provide unique, life-changing opportunities for EIT graduates. Organized by former exchange students from the University of Padua and from all over Italy, you will also have the opportunity to make connections.
“We are extremely grateful to our long-time sponsors and our new main sponsor, Wine Searcher, for making this unique meet-and-greet in memory of founder Kevin Moore a long-lasting event.”
Join the conversation by commenting on our social media channels.