A nose for wine growing
Cheap wine has forever been ruined for 20-year-old Madeline McNeil.
Just two years older than the drinking age, McNeil has already developed a palate so good she was chosen as an associate wine judge at the New World Wine Awards, the youngest in its 12-year history.
‘‘I can’t go back to buying $10 bottles of wine now. I have wine nights with the girls. We sample lots of wines, really responsibly of course,’’ she said.
The New World Porirua employee – her parents co-own the store – said she started wine tasting when she was 18.
‘‘To start out with, I had no idea to be honest. I’ve come a long way since that first day.
‘‘Starting out young I’ve seen my palate grow. It’s something different to anything else. Not many people at this age can say they have this big knowledge of wine.’’
The ambitious student does wine tastings in the weekend while studying business at Victoria University during the week.
Now, she is in the final stages of winning a retail scholarship to the USA to study food management, in the hopes of one day running her own supermarket. She said becoming an expert wine judge was not on the cards at this stage.
‘‘I look up to what they do but I don’t know if I see myself growing wine.
‘‘My passion is in the store and helping customers.’’
The New World Wine Awards took place at the Westpac Stadium over three days from August 3 to 5.
McNeil was one of eight associate judges chosen from New World stores across the country to work alongside 13 expert wine judges.
McNeil said while tasting wines sounded great, the awards were hard.
‘‘By the the time you get round to the 30th tasting they all smell like gooseberries.’’
She said she usually tasted about six wines per week and unlike many her age, she enjoyed a good dry wine.
Her favourite wine is the Terrace Edge Riesling.
‘‘I’m a big fan of riesling, I think it’s totally under-rated.’’