Vintages in California, Burgundy and Australia, and 10 years making wine for one of the leading estates in Marlborough, have seen Mike working with some of the world's best winemakers and vineyards. And it's had a profound influence on his winegrowing philosophy.

Wanting the freedom to make wine in his own name, Mike found the opportunity to get Naked too hard to ignore. No longer at the mercy of big brands and wholesalers, he could finally create wines his own way that celebrated the influence of human touch and the relationship between friends, growers, fruit and season. And, unique to Naked Wines, to find out what the people who drank it thought of it.

Mike's aim has always been to showcase his beloved region. "Our ambition with Lay of the Land wines is to represent the pureness of Marlborough's striking landscape, but with balance and texture and in turn immeasurable drinkability." The fact that the wines have attracted international awards is just a bonus!