A second-year Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science student from Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) has taken top honors at this year’s Bayley’s Hawke’s Bay Wine Awards. Ngaun Siau, 26, earned the prestigious Top Student Wine award for her 2024 Dalan Cabernet Franc, which earned 95 points and a Gold medal from the competition’s panel of judges.
Ngaun, originally from Taiwan, expressed her excitement upon receiving the recognition, which was sponsored by EIT. She also highlighted her enjoyment of the awards evening, where her wine stood out among the student entries.
“I made four red wines this year, and the award-winning Cabernet Franc was harvested from the Te Awa vineyard, where I worked during the summer,” she said. “It took me three days to harvest and a month to make the wine. The grapes were hand-harvested and partially whole-bunch fermented for a more fruitful style.”
The name “Dalan,” meaning “roads” in the Puyuma language of a Taiwanese tribe, holds special significance for Ngaun. “It represents the path your heart calls you to follow, the journey towards your dream,” she explained.
This award is a notable highlight in Ngaun’s two-year journey at EIT, which has not been without challenges. She arrived in New Zealand just one month before Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke’s Bay last year. Despite the disruption, she found a sense of community and support from both fellow students and the region’s residents.
“We received a lot of help from the Hawke’s Bay community after the cyclone. People here really care for each other,” Ngaun said. “The most difficult part was the lack of access to winemaking resources on campus while we switched to online learning.”
Ngaun, who comes from an agricultural family in Taiwan, was drawn to viticulture after seeing the transformation of a small vine into aged wine. Her passion for agriculture, combined with New Zealand’s commitment to organic and regenerative practices, led her to study viticulture here.
“I realized that New Zealand was the perfect place to further my studies and learn about sustainable wine growing,” she noted.
Before pursuing viticulture, Ngaun worked in construction and farming, but her true calling lay in winemaking. After the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic had passed, she made the move to New Zealand and chose EIT for its strong practical approach to viticulture.
“The supportive environment at EIT has been key to my success,” Ngaun said. “The staff are incredibly friendly, and our lecturers are always available to offer guidance. The strong connection we have with the local wine industry has been invaluable in my learning experience.”
Sue Blackmore, Head of EIT’s Viticulture and Wine Science School, praised Ngaun’s achievement. “We are all thrilled that Ngaun’s wine received a Gold. She spent long hours perfecting ‘Dalan,’ and her passion for winemaking is clear. We wish her all the best as she continues her journey in the wine industry.”
At EIT, all Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science students begin making wine in their first year, work an internship in the wine industry during their second year, and undertake a research project in their final year.
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