A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student has been named The Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year 2009. At a ceremony in Sydney on Friday 20 November, Mr Ryan Aggiss, from Flying Fish Cove winery in the Margaret River region in Western Australia, was named the winner of the award. Mr Aggiss is a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) student studying by distance education through the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga. The Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year awards aims to encourage and recognise excellence in young winemakers in Australia and New Zealand. The judges found Mr Aggiss produced and made the most outstanding wines of all 10 finalists. As part of the award, the winemaker receives a return trip to Europe for vintage 2010 and $5 000. "I am still pinching myself every day after being recognised by the Wine Society as the Young Winemaker of the Year,” Mr Aggiss said. “It’s extremely gratifying to know that all the years of vintage work and hours of study at Charles Sturt University have enabled me to be in this very fortunate position. I am passionate about continuing the production of well-priced, great wines for Flying Fish Cove and finishing my last year of study. I also look forward to spending a month travelling through the Old World wine regions; France, Italy, Germany and Spain.”