Taste of Success

“There are several reasons for [Waiheke Island vineyard] Man O War’s success,” Air New Zealand Wine Awards judge Eric Arnold writes in an article for Forbes. “It’s the island’s biggest, most established producer; it’s had the same vineyard manager for nearly 2 years; it has a young, energetic, talented winemaker. Yet the most important thing I learned while visiting Man O’ War was how the company chooses, trains and treats its vineyard workers. About five or six years ago, the winery began hiring several Ethiopian refugees, many of who arrived in Auckland more than 1 years ago. I’m the last person on earth to advocate buying a product that’s useless yet politically correct; and I’d certainly never encourage someone to buy and drink a wine that he or she wouldn’t like. But when there’s a choice between Man O’ War and another Waiheke wine on the store shelf, for me the decision is easy — mostly because I know the wine tastes great. Though I might enjoy it even more because I know why it tastes great.”