New Zealand Winegrowers, in partnership with Sommeliers Australia, are excited to announce that the New Zealand Wine Sommelier Scholarship initiative will take place in January 2027. Applications for the scholarship will be open to Australian applicants from 1 July until 21 August 2026. Only two scholarships will be awarded in the Australian market.
First launched in association with Sommeliers Australia in 2015, the scholarship is now a global initiative with sommeliers from New Zealand, Asia, Canada, UK, and USA set to join the Australian scholars in 2027.
The Sommelier Scholarship provides engaged wine professionals from all over the world with the opportunity to take part in an unforgettable wine experience, discovering the regions, varieties, landscapes, and personalities that make New Zealand wine so distinctly New Zealand.
As part of the two-week New Zealand immersion programme, scholarship recipients are invited to attend Sommit™, along with Sauvignon Blanc 2027 in Wairau Marlborough from 2–4 February 2027, and wider wine experiences and tastings across New Zealand.
About Sommit™
Held in Waitaki Valley on 22 – 23 January 2027, Sommit™ is hosted by New Zealand wine and on-premise authorities Cameron Douglas MS and Stephen Wong MW. Attended exclusively by sommelier scholarship recipients and targeted exclusively to their interests, the Sommit™ event is an all-encompassing celebration of the lesser known aspects of New Zealand wine.
Applicants must be:
- A working sommelier*
- A member of Sommeliers Australia from 1 July 2026
- Able to travel to New Zealand from 21 January 2027 to 5 February 2027
- Able to present a New Zealand wine session (organised by New Zealand Winegrowers) upon return. Please note this is a mandatory requirement if selected.
The scholarship includes:
- Attendance at the Sommit™ in Waitaki Valley (22 – 23 January 2027)
- Attendance at Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 in Wairau Marlborough (2 – 4 February 2027)
- Wine experiences and tastings in regions across New Zealand
- International and domestic flights, accommodation, meals, transfers, event registrations and all event inclusions
Candidates are expected to have a strong passion for the wine industry and a keen interest in developing their knowledge of New Zealand wine.
To apply
Applications will be open from 1 July until 21 August 2026.
For more information and to submit your application please visit:
New Zealand Wine Sommelier Scholarship Applications – Australia | New Zealand Wine
* For the purpose of this scholarship and Sommit™, a working sommelier is defined as:
- A person with contribution to/responsibility for/management of on-premise wine lists, either at their place of employment or on a consultant basis and/or
- A person who works the floor as a sommelier
- Having roles in other areas of the wine trade or media is acceptable
