Meet the 2025 Visa NZ Hospitality Scholarship Winner: Dunedin’s Jacqueline Jubel
Sommelier and wine bar owner wins professional development prize, recognising her leadership and dedication to wine education.
2025 Visa NZ Hospitality Scholarship winner Jacqueline Jubel
We’re thrilled to announce that Dunedin sommelier and pop-up wine-bar owner, Jacqueline Jubel, is the 2025 recipient of the Visa New Zealand Hospitality Scholarship.
Jacqueline impressed the judges with her leadership, passion, and unwavering commitment to the hospitality industry, earning her a $30,000 professional development prize designed to supercharge her career.
Jacqueline opened her Dunedin pop-up wine bar, The Cellar, in June and also manages No7 Balmac, where she has worked for seven years.
Her hospitality career began “almost by accident” while travelling on a working holiday visa. “I started working while travelling in New Zealand as a way to meet people — it’s a great way to connect with locals and experience a new culture. What started as a job quickly turned into a passion for creating memorable dining experiences, with guests leaving delighted and smiling.”
Falling in love with New Zealand’s wine regions sparked a deeper journey. Jacqueline went on to train as a sommelier, gaining qualifications across the UK, US, Germany and New Zealand.
2025 marked her third time applying for the scholarship — and the moment she won felt “surreal”.
“She’s absolutely ready for this opportunity,” says judge
2023 scholarship winner and returning judge Joshua Ross (owner of Twenty Eight in Lower Hutt) says Jacqueline’s growth was clear. “Jacqueline had clearly taken on board feedback from previous years’ entries and impressed us with her commitment to the industry and passion for its growth. She’s highly valued by her employers and her team — several staff members even joined because of her.”
Judges also noted her strong grasp of what it takes to run a business. Her work launching The Cellar showcased not just her expertise in wine and beverages, but her readiness to take on a broader leadership role.
Visa New Zealand Country Manager Anthony Watson agrees.“Hospitality is the heartbeat of communities. By investing in talent like Jacqueline, we’re helping create experiences that connect people and cultures.”
Jacqueline and scholarship judges Joshua Ross and Hayley Scott in No7 Balmac's kitchen garden
Nurturing hospitality talent and community
Jacqueline is excited for the overseas placement and the chance to further contribute to the hospitality community she loves.
“Great hospitality is about fostering curiosity, confidence and connection — and opportunities like this scholarship help us build the knowledge to create those experiences.”
Chef Kritika Mahajan of Mr Morris in Auckland and Pastry Chef Daniel Courtney of Shelly Bay Baker in Wellington were also finalists for the scholarship programme.
Festival Director Beth Brash says the scholarship is elevating the calibre of talent each year. “Supporting the next generation is how we keep the industry fresh and nurture talent right here in New Zealand.”
Finalists Kritika Mahajan and Daniel Courtney
About the scholarship
Launched in 2023 by Visa in partnership with the Wellington Culinary Events Trust, this annual scholarship is all about nurturing Aotearoa’s next generation of hospitality leaders.
The winner receives:
A five-day international industry placement (flights and accommodation included)
Access to a major global hospitality event
A year-long mentorship
Personal brand coaching
A wellbeing support package
The opportunity to run an event at Visa Wellington On a Plate 2026
It’s Visa’s way of investing in the future of New Zealand’s hospitality sector and helping exceptional talent thrive.
