The Story of Destiny Bay Wines — A Journey, a Discovery and the Pursuit of Perfection
New book tells the extraordinary true story of how a small, family-owned Waiheke Island, New Zealand winery took on Bordeaux's First Growths — and won.
Most people assume the world's greatest Cabernet Sauvignon blends can only come from Bordeaux, Tuscany, California or Australia. Forged in Fire, written by Destiny Bay co-founder Michael F. Spratt and published internationally on 1 September 2026 by Mary Egan Publishing, tells the story from the inside — of the family who set out to prove that assumption wrong.
Eighty million years in the making, the land itself is a major character in the story. When Ann and Mike Spratt stood on a hill on Waiheke Island a quarter century ago, 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 that making world-class Cabernet blends in New Zealand was a fool's errand, and that the quality standards they set for themselves were financially suicidal. They did it anyway.
For more than twenty-five years, the small, independent, family-owned Destiny Bay Wines pursued a single goal: a Cabernet blend that could stand alongside the world's best. Today, its wines are consistently rated by internationally respected critics alongside — and frequently ahead of — many of Bordeaux's First Growths, Italy's legendary Super Tuscans, and the cult Cabernets of California and Australia.
The commitment to that standard came at a cost: when entire vintages failed to meet the quality the family had set for themselves, they were abandoned outright, whatever the financial toll.
Forged in Fire is not simply a winery history. It is the story of an impossible place, and of the improbable people who refused to accept conventional wisdom about it. It is a story of scientific discovery, relentless experimentation, financial risk, family sacrifice, humour and heartbreak — and of what the pursuit of perfection really requires, and really costs. Ultimately, it is the story of how a small New Zealand family challenged centuries of European convention, and succeeded.
Early Praise
“Forged in Fire is far more than a conventional winery history. It is a highly personal account of obsession, place, family, science and the moral discipline required to pursue excellence without compromise… Overall, it is warm, learned, amusing and deeply committed. It succeeds because it is not simply about wine.”
— 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
“I like the writing style — evocative stuff!”
— Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
“Forged in Fire reads as a story first … for an audience broader than just those interested in wine.”
— Claire Sullivan-Kraus, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Denizen
After twenty-five years, one of New Zealand's most extraordinary stories has finally been told.
Book Details
Title: Forged in Fire
Subtitle: An Impossible Place Meets Improbable People — The Story of Destiny Bay Wines: A Journey, a Discovery and the Pursuit of Perfection
Author: Michael F. Spratt
Publisher: Mary Egan Publishing (www.maryegan.co.nz)
Publication Date: 1 September 2026
ISBN: 978-1-991436-17-7
Format: Hardback, 213 pages; also available in eBook format
Recommended Retail Price: NZ$40
Availability: Nationwide through leading booksellers, on Amazon, and online at www.maryegan.co.nz
About the Author
Michael F. Spratt, Ph.D., is a co-founder, director and proprietor of Destiny Bay Wines. A respected leader in the viticultural community, he served for three years on the Board of New Zealand Winegrowers, representing the interests of more than six hundred small-scale producers, and is a past President of the Waiheke Winegrowers Association.
Before turning his expertise to the vineyard, Spratt built a distinguished career in global business consulting, holding partner-level roles at PwC, the Mercer Consulting Group and Hay Management Consultants. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from San Jose State University.
He is the author of two previous books: Grape-A-Hol, an examination of how corporate interests shape artisan winemaking and the future of fine wine, and Five Frogs on a Log, a CEO's field guide to accelerating change through mergers and acquisitions.
