Marlborough Man

Book excerpt: The true story of the rise of Marlborough and NZ Sauvignon Blanc, told by one of its pioneers, winemaker Allan Scott, as both personal and professional memoir, fully illustrated. The remarkable story of Marlborough wine, from the planting of the first vines to the global success of New Zealand's billion-dollar sauvignon blanc industry, is also the very personal story of winemaker Allan Scott. As a young farm hand he helped plant the first vines, going on to help Montana and Corbans establish their sauvignon vineyards, and and then to found his own hugely successful family winery. He knows the real stories, the mistakes and the triumphs, the heroes and villains, and how an unlikely region of New Zealand's South Island became a varietal powerhouse and major export industry. A lot of how it happened came down to luck, along with perserverence and bloody-mindedness, and some extraordinary ingenuity that revolutionised winemaking. Setting the record straight, as well as telling a personal saga of risking it all and keeping a family together, Allan recounts his story with great humour and modesty. With a rich photographic archive and new photography from award winning photographer Patrick Reynold, this is a fine memoir with real body and taste.