Andy Anderson Memorial Scholarship in Viticulture and Oenology

The Andy Anderson Memorial Scholarship was established in 2023 to support a Lincoln University student who is completing the third year of study towards a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree

Background

Andrew Anderson (Andy) who sadly died in 2019 of cancer, was one of the first students of Lincoln’s Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology in 1998. He went on to make wine in the Barossa Valley, as well as in Spain, and subsequently settled in the Waikato purchasing the Cambridge Fine Wine Store with his wife Nikki. It was through the wine store he met Takapoto Estate owners Mitch and Kate Plaw, the couple who enabled Andy’s dream to make very good wine reflective of its terroir to become a reality. He also collaborated with fellow alumnus Rob Cameron of Invivo Wines and Timbo Deaker of Viticultura in producing Central Otago Pinot Noirs. Andy entered the first ever vintage of Takapoto Estate 2012 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, sourced from grapes from the Legends Terrace in Bannockburn, into the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) held in London in 2017, and was up against entries received from nearly 90 countries worldwide. The wine won not only the coveted world Pinot Noir trophy, but Andy was also named New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year on his debut entry. In 2018 he won the Pinot Noir trophy and the New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year again with a Takapoto Estate 2014 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from grapes he sourced from Cox’s Vineyard in Gibbston. Not to be one-dimensional, he also won an outstanding Silver for a Takapoto Estate 2014 Hawkes Bay Reserve Chardonnay. This scholarship is funded from a special vintage of wine produced by ‘Andy’s viticulture mates’ in his honour. This scholarship not only provides financial support for a third year viticulture and oenology student, it also provides industry experience in the form of the vintage component of their studies within the Central Otago area - a NZ wine region renowned for its Pinot Noir and that Andy passionately advocated for.

Purpose

The Andy Anderson Memorial Scholarship was established in 2022 to support a Lincoln University student who is completing the third year of study towards a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree and engaging with (or embarking on) the Vintage component of this qualification.

3. Number/Value One scholarship will be offered annually to a full-time third year student studying towards a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree at Lincoln University. The annual value of the scholarship shall be $10,000 towards tuition fees and/or living expenses relating to completing a Vintage Semester in Central Otago.

Eligibility

4.1 Applicants must be full time students registered in the third year of their Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology degree and embarking on the Vintage Semester. 4.2 Applicants must have successfully completed 240 credits, within at least two years of full-time study, toward their degree at Lincoln University. 4.3 Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents

Selection Criteria

The criteria for selection will be

5.1 Academic Merit 5.2 Area of study and its relevance to this scholarship 5.3 Demonstrated interest and commitment to working in the New Zealand Wine and related industry 5.4 The successful student will be expected to keep a reflective diary during the vintage and provide a written report to the Selection Committee on completion prior to graduating

Tenure

7.1 The scholarship is tenable for a maximum of one year from commencement date. 7.2 There will be an opportunity to gain work experience during the vintage period. 7.2.1 If the student applicant is employed during the vintage semester this will require a separate employment agreement. 7.3 The scholarship shall begin at the commencement of the Semester immediately following the award. 7.4 The scholarship is tenable with any other scholarship, award, or bursary, only with prior approval from the selection committee, providing the regulations of that scholarship allow co-tenure