Nick Mills was born about the same time his father Rolfe Mills started planting vines on the family sheep farm on the edge of Lake Wanaka in Central Otago, New Zealand.
After an accident ended his dreams of representing his country at the 1998 Winter Olympics, Mills went to France where he worked for four years in Burgundy, getting qualifications in viticulture and biodynamic winemaking.
Mills returned to Rippon in 2002 to take over as winemaker. Since then his wines have won awards around the world. The family farm celebrated its centenary last year, and is very much a family-run business.
Nick Mills spoke with video reporter Stephen Quinn in Hong Kong. Mills was attending the Passion for Pinot workshop organised by Altaya Wines.