The wine industry is mourning the loss of one of its founding
fathers after the death of 94-year-old Nikola Nobilo in
Auckland.
The Croatian immigrant founded the country's second largest wine
company and also helped shape the $700 million industry into what
it is today.
Nobilo was New Zealand's last surviving Croatian-born wine pioneer - still harvesting grapes in his early 90s and reflecting on the country's changing taste for wine.
Nikola Nobilo brought a 300 year family winemaking tradition from Europe when he planted his first grapes in West Auckland in the early 1940s, founding Nobilo Wines.
The house of Nobilo started making port and sherry, but with the help of three sons it grew to become the country's second largest winemaker.
"You can't talk about where New Zealand wine has got to in the world today - and it is absolutely impressive - without taking into account the contribution of the Nobilo family," says Terry Dunleavy, editor of NZ Winegrower.
Nikola Nobilo also succeeded on the international stage.
British Airways has served Nobilo wines for the past 13 years and the company is now owned by America's Constellation Wines - the world's biggest wine company.
"Nikola Nobilo's legacy will live on through that now international brand, and also in the wonderful gewurtztraminers that his son Nick Junior is making - specialising in - in Gisborne," says Dunleavy.
Nikola Nobilo will also be remembered as a devout Catholic with strong family values. He was awarded an OBE for his services to wine and is survived by his wife, Zuva, three sons and nine grandchildren.
