Hiroyuki Kishida
Assistant Winemaker, New Zealand Wineries Ltd
Hiro Kishida was working long hours as an IT specialist in Tokyo’s urban jungle when he had a revelation.
“I wanted to change my lifestyle. I loved wine and I loved pinot noir, so I Googled winemaking and checked viticulture courses in English-speaking countries,” he says. “I chose New Zealand because it makes good pinot noir, is a very safe country and easy to live here.”
Hiro moved to Marlborough with his wife Yuko and enrolled in the Diploma in Viticulture and Winemaking programme at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. He liked the fact the programme was practical, had its own vineyard on campus and students got hands-on experience producing their own wine – from grape production through to harvest and wine-making.
“When I started the NMIT course I knew nothing about wine-making, but now I know a lot. It’s a very good course. It was very practical.”
Hiro graduated two years later and went straight into a job as a cellar hand and a vintage supervisor with New Zealand Wineries (formally Mud House winery) in Marlborough. He got the job while on work experience as part of his NMIT training.
“Compared with my IT job in Toyko it’s a totally different life,” Hiro says. “It used to take 1 ½ hours to get to the office by crowded train, but now it only takes 10 minutes - I can have a life. I like making wine and working outside in a physical job.”
Hiro’s passion is making high-quality wines. Several of his vintages have won prestigious awards, including gold medals at the Air New Zealand Wine Show.
“Making wine is a science and an art. You are creating something people can enjoy and good wine is beautiful. I’m always thinking about quality and I’m very proud to be involved in making high-quality wine. When we win gold medals I’m very happy – especially if it’s for Pinot Noir.”
Hiro hopes one day to be winning awards for his own wine label.
“I want to have my own vineyard in Nelson one day, and I want to make my own brand specialising in Pinot Noir – that’s my dream.”
Find out more about the Certificate in English as an Additional Language and Diploma in Viticulture and Wine Production.
Watch and interview with Hiroyuki Kishida on YouTube:
