Let Land Grow Wild

Niew Tai-Ran has worn many hats: aeronautical engineering major, investment banker, avid surfer, and, for the last 14 years, winemaker. Discover how this Malaysia-born, Singapore-native is championing the “do-nothing farming” philosophy at his vineyard in Oregon.

- Claire Quan

“ My late mother was a keen horticulturist, and the whole family would be involved in tending to the garden and fruit trees. Those moments are some of my fondest childhood memories.”

SIMPLE CHILDHOOD. I was born in London, and then the family moved to Singapore when I was still a toddler. I suppose what was perhaps slightly unusual for someone growing up in Singapore was that I had a relatively rural upbringing—the early years were on campus at Nanyang University (my father was a lecturer there), where it felt like we lived in the rainforest. And then we had house in Bukit Timah with durian, avocado, rambutan and coconut trees. My late mother was a keen horticulturist, and the whole family would be involved in tending to the garden and fruit trees. Those moments are some of my fondest childhood memories.

GROWING UP. I went to Joo Long (Rulang) Primary School, then The Chinese High School (Hwa Chong Institution). I studied Aeronautical Engineering and graduated with a PhD in Fluid Mechanics from the University of Cambridge. It was there that my professor really thought me how to think. It was more an exercise in the philosophy of science than engineering!

ON CULTURE AND ROOTS. My last name is a function of a colonial administrator’s attempt to spell the Hakka pronunciation of our family name (饶 rao) when my father was born. I am very much Singaporean. It’s where I grew up, it’s home. The intimacy of the local culture, the heartwarming wit and humour that can only be understood with a decent grasp of Hokkien; these are things that mean a lot to me.