Our Story
Our story as it appeared earlier is due for an update, keeping the relevant parts……
25 years ago, Yuko gained the rights to translate and publish Harry Potter in Japan. It was a huge success. 13 years ago, Bob retired from his international work and turned to writing. Together we started a wine club in France called ‘Phoenix Wine Club’, named after ‘The Order of Phoenix ’, in the Harry Potter series. We took the idea firstly to Japan. Then we thought, ‘Why not look for a small vineyard and family business?’ Through contacts in the Adelaide Hills we ended up reaching an agreement with Mike Press to acquire Mike Press Wines. That was in 2017.
Early on, Mike and his wife Judy visited Japan with us, and Mike was welcomed like a rock star. To this day, Mike Press Wines continues to be imported into Japan by our friends at Village Cellars – Richard and Yoshiko Cohen.
Later Mike and Judy visited us in France and then in Switzerland, where they joined Yuko as she celebrated her 80th birthday last September, when she announced that she was passing the Presidency of her publishing house to her Vice-President.
Now there are changes underway at Mike Press Wines – as we have announced – see A NEW ERA FOR MIKE PRESS WINES. [Read more]
We are by no means wine experts. But we know good wines and good value. So, we have never hesitated to back Mike Press Wines.
More of this story will be told later. For now, Bob is working on his new book, beginning with his experience of India during the Bangladesh War of 1971, and Yuko is responding to invitations for speaking engagements. Both of us are also committed to our work with the Magic Libraries Foundation and related charities.
Meanwhile please join us in continuing to enjoy Mike Press Wines, made by Mike Press, with grapes from the superb vineyard in the Adelaide Hills [Read more]
*Mike and Judy joined us in Burgundy, France, in the summer of 2022. Our staff at the Château de St Germain kindly gave us this photo as a gift at the end of year party of that year.
Yuko had kept it in her study.