Junior Sommelier & NZ Sommelier of the Year, Travel Scholarship and Auckland Blind Tasting Competition.

Our recent Fundraising evening at Webbs Gallery drew together an impressive selection of wines and gastronomic experiences along with committed supporters who helped us raise nearly $30,000! This is a wonderful achievement and we are very grateful to all our donors and volunteers.  Take a look at the Fundraising Evening with Andrea demonstrating some sommelier tasks and you can also see the donors here. 

Looking for Young Sommeliers Travel Scholarships $500 

In our new Michelin-Kiwi World, we too want to inspire young FOH staff to learn more about wines, spirits and beverages are have a go at the Junior Sommelier of the Year Competition (Under 26 yrs) on August 2nd at 9am. To help get people to Auckland, we have a small number of travel scholarships to fund their travel to attend the  Junior Sommelier of the Year Competition. This competition focuses on knowledge of New Zealand Wine Regions and Wine Styles with a practical presentation and no decanting.

We also have Travel Scholarships for candidates for the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year and hope to encourage people outside of Auckland to compete.

This year the winner will be invited to attend New Zealand Winegrowers Sommit 22 & 23 January 2027, followed by Sauvignon New Zealand Conference in Blenheim from 2 - 4 February 2027.

Deadline for the Travel Scholarship Application is Monday 13 July. We will hold an ONLINE Competition Briefing on Monday 20 July.

Blind Tasting Congratulations to the team of Helen Masters of Ata Rangi and Wilco Lam of Oraterra who won the Wairarapa Blind Wine Tasting Competition. See photos here.  Please join us in Auckland for our Annual Blind Tasting Competition on Sunday 2 August at 3pm.  Individual tickets are available too. 

Cameron Douglas and the team of Sommelier Edit will again run the 100 Top New Zealand Sommeliers which will be announced at an event in early September. Apply here. 

Reminder that our AGM will take place on Sunday 2 August at 1pm.

With best wishes

Celia Hay

 

Annual General Meeting: Sunday 2 August 1pm

Call for Committee Nominations as per our Constitution

i. Nominations for the Committee shall be called for at least 28 days before an Annual General Meeting. Each candidate shall be proposed and seconded in writing by Members and the completed nomination delivered to the Secretary/Treasurer. Nominations shall close at 5pm on Sunday 26 July -  the seventh day before the Annual General Meeting.

ii. All retiring members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election. Committee Members available for re-election in 2026: Celia Hay, Andrea Martinisi, Nick Hewitt, Wayne Shennen, Karen Fistonich

Cashias Gumbo has resigned as his new business commitments are taking his focus. We thank Cashias for his support and valued contribution to the committee since 2023.

We are seeking a new committee member to fill this vacancy. We meet online 6 - 8 times each year on a Monday evening from 5-6pm. 

ASI Certificate Examinations 

ASI Certificate 1 Monday 9  November 2026 See more information here

Registrations close:  Monday 12 October

ASI Certificate 2 Monday 9 November 2026 Find our more here

Registrations close: Monday 12 October

ASI Diploma Monday 8 March 2027 Read more here

Registrations close: Monday 22 February 2027

New Zealand Sommelier and Junior Sommelier of the Year 2026

Please join us for our annual competition and celebration of our hospitality and tourism world. This is an opportunity to learn and develop more skills and give you confidence to shine.

New Zealand Junior Sommelier of the Year

We would like to encourage people under 26 who are working in hospitality to have a go! The Junior Competition is not as rigorous as the Senior but still helps you to develop and enhance your skills.

New Zealand Sommelier of the Year

This year's prize is to attend New Zealand Winegrowers SOMMIT followed by Sauvignon Conference in Marlborough in 2027.

For those you beyond Auckland, we have a travel scholarships available for up to $500. These are limited so please do not wait to apply. Here is the link to the questions that you will need to email us with.

We will hold an ONLINE Competition Briefing on Monday 20 July. Register here.