Pinot Noir is one of the world's most challenging grapes: Sensitive to frost and rot, this thin-skinned varietal really tests the limits of a winemaker's skill. But tenacious winemaker Hiroyuki Kusuda wouldn't have it any other way. This Japanese national has fought against the odds to set up his own wine label, Kusuda Wines, in New Zealand and is now producing pinot that has gained an extremely positive reception from wine gurus such as Master of Wine Jancis Robinson.

Working with only a shoestring budget, Kusuda has produced elegant, refined wines that have wowed critics. His G pinot noir garnered a five-star rating in international wine magazine Decanter back in 2006, and these days his wines regularly sell out on release.

These achievements are a testament to his willpower: To pursue his dream of creating superlative pinot noir, Kusuda quit his Sydney-based job at Australia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade just as he was on his way to becoming a diplomat at the age of 31. After studying German from scratch, he enrolled at the renowned Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute, frugally supporting himself and his young family on savings.