MIRAE VINEYARD

James Suckling is an internationally recognised wine critic, author and founder of JamesSuckling.com, whose career has taken him through many of the world’s great wine regions. After years of tasting and reporting on New Zealand wine, James and his wife, Marie, acquired the Martinborough vineyard in 2023 and named it Mirae, the Korean word for “future.” The project reflects a desire to experience wine from the ground up, with a strong focus on vine health, longevity and the distinctive character of Martinborough. The vineyard’s old Pinot Noir blocks are being carefully revitalised under the guidance of renowned Italian pruning specialist Marco Simonit, with the aim of improving sap flow, vine balance and long-term resilience. The fruit is vinified at Ata Rangi with winemaker Helen Masters, using spontaneous fermentation and a thoughtful combination of open-top fermenters, terracotta amphorae, glass Wineglobes and seasoned French oak. The resulting wines are produced in extremely small quantities and offer a highly personal interpretation of New Zealand Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.