Koyama
Koyama is the brand of Japanese-born winemaker Takahiro Koyama. After arriving in New Zealand in 2003 to study winemaking and viticulture at Lincoln University, Takahiro began working at Mountford Estate as a cellarhand.
In 2009, following vintages in Germany and the US, Takahiro established Koyama Wines, having progressed to assistant winemaker at Mountford. With investment from Japan, Takahiro then managed to buy Mountford Estate, and Koyama went from strength to strength.
Koyama sources its grapes from three vineyards in Waipara; William's and Pearson's for Pinot Noir, and Tussock Terrace for Riesling, which lend their names to several of Koyama's offerings. Production is small, with only around 1,500 cases produced each year.