Allan Scott has become something of a household name for those in the New Zealand wine industry. Credited with the meteoric rise of Montana, Scott went on to found his own family winery in 1990, which would quickly shoot to international success. Today, his name features on over 1.5 million bottles of wine sold around the world each year.
Yet few know the full story of Scott’s humble origins. In the endearing Marlborough Man, ghost-written by American journalist and author Eric Arnold, he details a modest beginning as a Canterbury farmhand. His subsequent rise to fame is a charming and quintessentially Kiwi story of hard work, determination - and a number-eight wire attitude.
The book blends amusing anecdotes alongside a vivid depiction of the New Zealand wine industry, and the struggles of family life. Scott recounts stories of falling asleep at London executive dinners, and continual mishaps with cats, with a warm humour that makes the read all the more personable.
His story – of a compelling and vibrant life – is surely a must-read for anyone interested in the overall romance of the wine industry.
