Forged in Fire
The Story of Destiny Bay Wines: A Journey, a Discovery, and the Pursuit of Perfection
$38.29
- Hardcover
224 pages
- Release Date
1 September 2026
Summary
Eighty million years in the making. When Ann and Mike Spratt stood on a hill on Waiheke Island, they didn’t see a vineyard. They saw a quirk of nature. A north-facing amphitheatre shaped valley that could trap and reflect heat. They were told making world-class Cabernet blends in New Zealand was a fool’s errand. They were told the standards they set were financially suicidal. They did it anyway.
Forged in Fire is the story of how a small family travelled from one side of the …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781991436177 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1991436173 |
| Author: | Michael F. Spratt |
| Publisher: | Mary Egan Publishing |
| Imprint: | Mary Egan Publishing |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 224 |
| Release Date: | 1 September 2026 |
| Weight: | 600g |
| Dimensions: | 22mm x 156mm x 215mm |
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Critics Review
“In a word, ‘brilliant’. Mike Spratt’s Forged in Fire delivers an unparalleled look into the development of a world-class vineyard and the production of exceptional wine… A spanking good read and, more than that, an education in what makes a great wine. I can unreservedly say you will not be disappointed.”
Jon Turnbull, Managing Director, Typhon Holdings Limited
”Forged in Fire is far more than a conventional winery history… It succeeds because it is not simply about wine. It is about what happens when capable people encounter a rare place and decide that ‘good enough’ is not good enough.”
Merle Hinrich, Chairman, Hinrich Foundation
“A great story of vision and commitment resulting in a truly world-class wine. The Spratts are to be congratulated on an outstanding achievement.”
Sir Ralph Norris KNZM, former CEO, ASB Bank, Air New Zealand and Commonwealth Bank Group
“What a fascinating read… Very easy for the casual reader to gain a real insight into the industry and its many obstacles and triumphs. I haven’t read a book in one sitting for years.”
Chris Hammond, retired Marlborough and Waiheke Island grapegrower
“Your book is a great read. We both read it and loved it… Epic!”
Daniel & Adele Le Brun, Founders, No. 1 Family Estate
“An entertaining travel tale, a business case study on entering a new agricultural profession, the science of winemaking, and the stewardship of the vineyard for future wine enthusiasts.”
Steven Small, Director, Zephyr Human Performance Systems, Medtronic Corp.
“A compelling story brought to life with brilliant narrative. It’s a great wine story, but it’s not really a wine book. A world-class enterprise built from an improbable starting point.”
Tab Bowers, Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company
Michael F. Spratt
Michael F. Spratt, Ph.D.
Michael F. Spratt, Ph.D., is a co-founder, director, and proprietor of Destiny Bay Wines Ltd. A respected leader in the viticultural community, he served for three years on the Board of New Zealand Winegrowers, representing the interests of over six hundred small-scale producers, and is a past President of the Waiheke Winegrowers Association.
Before turning his expertise to the vineyard, Dr. Spratt established a distinguished career in global business consulting. He was a partner at PwC and previously held partner-level roles with the Mercer Consulting Group and Hay Management Consultants. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from San Jose State University.
An accomplished author, Dr. Spratt has published two acclaimed books: Grape-A-Hol, an incisive look at how corporate interests impact artisan winemaking and the future of fine wine, and Five Frogs on a Log, a CEO’s field guide to accelerating the transition in mergers, acquisitions, and gut-wrenching change.
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