4 minute read
Generation Y-ine - Cara Hayes
Generation Y-ine
Taking it step by step in the wine industry
KAT DUGGAN
FROM FREEZING worker and farmer to petrol station attendant, Cara Hayes explored a few different career paths before finding the wine industry. The Constellation Brands New Zealand viticulture technician has also made short work of moving up the ranks within the company, since joining it in 2018.
Her journey with Constellation Brands began at their Riverlands Winery, with a six month cadetship. This led to time spent working in one of their vineyards, Awarua, where she quickly realised she would like to remain. “I’ve always liked the outdoors,” Cara says.
Following her cadetship, Cara took a full-time role as a vineyard operator with the company and has most recently earned the role of viticulture technician at Constellation Brands’ Brooklands Vineyard in central Wairau Valley.
She took the role in December 2019, and alongside her work has also begun studying towards a Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). Cara has come a long way in the wine industry in two short years, before which she was working at the Z petrol station on Blenheim’s busy Grove Rd. “I used to see people coming in in their Constellation gear and I talked to a few people about it,” she says. “One of them sent me some information about the cadetship, so that set me on the right path of where to apply.”
Born and raised in Milton, South Otago, the majority of Cara’s working life was outside, prior to her role at Z. She spent five years working in the sheep yards at the town’s freezing works, and in the off-season worked on dairy and sheep farms.
It didn’t take long living in New Zealand’s wine capital for a career in the wine industry to become a no-brainer. “With vineyards and wineries everywhere, I thought I may as well give it a go and see what it’s all about,” Cara says. She is grateful for the encouragement she received to join Constellation Brands, as well as for the ongoing support since she began work at the company. “There’s a lot of supportive people and a lot of opportunities at Constellation,” she says.
Last year, Cara took part in New Zealand Wine’s Women in Wine mentoring programme as a mentee, and says it provided great insight into the industry, one she sees as being a fantastic choice for young women to consider. It was through the Women in Wine programme that Cara gained the confidence she needed to take on the three-year
bachelor’s degree with NMIT, which she started last July. “My tutor at Women in Wine was awesome. She helped me gain confidence in myself and to do study. I have gained a friend [in her] as well,” she says.
While the degree will give her a taste of winery experience, Cara envisions the vineyard will remain her first choice of workplace. “I love being outdoors and all the different operations of the vineyards. Working with the teams is awesome and there is so much to learn off each other.”
Long term, Cara hopes to use the knowledge she has gained through both her studies and experience at work to pursue her own winegrowing operation. “I would love to have my own wee vineyard one day but I am taking it step by step and trying to learn as much as I can for now,” she says. “I definitely see myself staying in the vineyards as opposed to the winery.”
Young Vit and Winemaker Competitions The Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year 2020 will be held in Marlborough on July 23, with the national final held in Wairarapa on August 7 and 8. Marlborough’s Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year 2020 will be held at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology on September 16, with the national final on in Hawke’s Bay on November 6. Both competitions were postponed due to ramifications of Covid-19, and New Zealand Winegrowers’ Leadership and Communities Manager Nicky Grandorge says the events are needed more than ever, “to come together, work together, strengthen our industry’s future and have some fun”. Corteva Agriscience is the new naming rights sponsor for the Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition, and will share the knowledge of its viticulturists with the contestants at the education days, at the six regional Young Viticulturist competitions, and at the national final. Tonnellerie de Mercurey is embarking on its sixth year as naming sponsor for Young Winemaker of the Year, which has three regional competitions before the national final. For more information and entry forms, please contact Nicky Grandorge, at nicky.grandorge@nzwine.com or 021780948
Grow your career online
Bachelor of Viticulture
and Winemaking (Level 7)
New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Viticulture Fruit
Production (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate in
Cellar Operations (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate in
Cellar Operations (Level 3)
Start in July with tailored and online course options, a campus with world-class facilities, research vineyard and the opportunity to rub shoulders with scientists at the Bragato Research Institute. All located in the heart of New Zealand’s wine industry.
nmit.ac.nz / viticulture
