The Shout Magazine (New Zealand)

NZ Winegrowers announces Sommelier Scholarship recipients

Matthew Bocock.

New Zealand Winegrowers has announced two New Zealand-based sommeliers who have been selected to participate in the 2018 New Zealand Winegrowers International Sommelier Scholarship.

Matthew Bocock from Wholesale Boot Company Restaurant in Wellington and Anna Krykunivsky from Imperium Group in Queenstown will attend a Sommit event in Nelson and Central Otago with other international recipients.

The programme is limited to just 20 sommeliers and this is the first time that New Zealanders will take part.

Hosted by Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas and Master of Wine Stephen Wong, the events are a celebration of the lesser known aspects of New Zealand wine, with emphasis on the facets that resonate with the sommelier community.

“We’re delighted to include two extraordinary New Zealand sommeliers in this year’s programme,” says Chris Yorke, Global Marketing Director, New Zealand Winegrowers. “Not only will they benefit tremendously from the experience themselves, but they will also provide a valuable New Zealand voice for our international sommelier attendees.”

The New Zealand Winegrowers Sommelier Scholarship was first launched in 2015 for Australian sommeliers. It is now a global initiative, with the New Zealand sommeliers joining scholars from Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and the USA.