Tokyo-born Hiroyuki (known as Hiro) Kusuda trained as a lawyer and worked for Fujitsu, then the Consulate General of Japan in Sydney before throwing it all in to pursue his other love, wine and winemaking.
Developing his style during harvests in Burgundy and studying viticulture at Geisenheim in Germany, the choice of New Zealand in general and
Martinborough in particular apparently came about through tasting the 1992 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir.
Hiro Kusuda is meticulous to an almost fanatical degree, but it explains the exceptional quality and amazing precision of his wines. They speak of passion, diligence, and the continuous pursuit of perfection. Volumes produced are very small, with only 1.6 ha of Pinot Noir, 1.2 ha of Syrah and even less of Riesling grown.