Why Michi?

Hi, I’m Mariko —
a winemaker originally from Tauranga,
obsessed with the in-between moments
and wines with a story to tell.

After over a decade of making wine,
following my head and my nose,
to wine regions far from home —
I took a year off to explore the world
and see where my feet and my heart would take me...

A hiker in a bright hat, walking on a winding mountain trail with three horses grazing nearby, mountainous landscape in South America

It was while
hiking in South America,
following trails,
over mountains
and past glaciers,
not knowing
what lay beyond
each turn,
but enjoying
every step —
that something
clicked

A smiling woman with hiking gear, including a purple backpack, red hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles, standing on a trail in a mountainous landscape with green shrubs and rocky peaks spreading out in the distance.

I realised,
I didn’t want this
to be
just a year off,
I wanted
to live
a life defined
by freedom
and
anticipation

A contemplative woman with a pink hat and a blue backpack sitting on a rocky ledge enjoying the view, in a mountainous landscape with rugged peaks and a winding trail.

I want to live
a life of creativity
and authenticity.

To make wine
exactly how I want to —

to experiment,
to take risks,
to stay curious,
to build community,
and create safe spaces
for people like me,
and people like you.

To create —
not just wine,
but something people
can feel part of

An explorer with a red hat and backpack crouching by a rocky lakeshore, picking up rocks, with mountains and a snow-capped peak in the background.

The meaning of Michi

In Japanese, Michi holds two meanings

noun

[mee-chee]

道

未知

[mee-chee]

adjective

a journey
a path
a way of life

undiscovered
unknown
undetermined

Michi can also be a name

An old black and white photo of a Japanese mother of three children outdoors in a field with hills in the background. The woman is sitting and holding a young baby, while a toddler sits next to her. Her son stands a few feet away in the background.

Michiko was my grandmother,
who ran a small crockery shop in post-war Japan.
She selected each piece with care —
objects that held meals, drinks, and shared moments.

Through her,
I developed an appreciation
for craft,
and finding beauty in the
imperfections

Michi Wines is a celebration
of creativity,
of the unknown
of finding your own path,
of taking risks, and living authentically
of LGBTQ+ pride and making connections
Of wabi-sabi — the beauty in imperfection and impermanence
and the meeting of my New Zealand–Japanese heritage.

A woman going on an adventure, in outdoor hiking gear, including sunglasses, a red hat, and a blue jacket, smiling while standing on a rocky mountain trail with snow-covered peaks in the background.

Join me on the journey
and let’s see where this path
takes us

Keep in touch