Ariki Hill, owner and winemaker at Labyrinth has been passionate about Pinot Noir for over 20 years. He produced his first wine at home in New Zealand in 1982. His passion for good wine has only increased through some chance encounters with such luminaries as Danny Schuster in 1984 (and a taste of the fabled ‘82 St Helena Pinot Noir), Stephen White (Stonyridge, Waiheke Island) in 1986 and Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat) in 1997. In recent years he has completed seven consecutive vintages in California. In 2000 he joined forces with well known local Pinot Noir producer Lane Tanner, and it was there in California that the Labyrinth label was born. Its release in Australia followed in 2002.Ariki chose Labyrinth as a brand because he felt it perfectly represented the search for a great Pinot Noir in that there are many options and as many potential disappointments, but the way forward, once discovered always takes you home. Ariki has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Oenology from Charles Sturt University and has been putting that knowledge to work for more than 20 years in the food industry dealing primarily with liquid processing, milk, fruit juice and ultimately his passion, Pinot Noir.