A Gallery of History

The New Zealand wine industry has a colourful history dating back over 200 years. The first grapevines were planted in 1819 by missionary Samuel Marsden decades before New Zealand’s founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed. He said “New Zealand promises to be favourable to the vine as far as I can judge at present of the nature of the soil and climate. Should the vine succeed, it would prove of vast importance in this part of the globe.” The plantings were relatively recent given that Europe had been growing grapes and making wine centuries before. It is ironic that this last bastion of the wine world has proved that it can produce some of the best wines on the planet! This gallery presents a few photos of the journey.

Bill Rowling and Rob Muldoon

The Leader of the Opposition (left), and Prime Minister (right) prepare to carve a lamb off the spit at the 1975 Annual Viticultural Field day. Each year the New Zealand wine industry would hold an Annual Wine Dinner followed by the Annual Viticultural Field Day.

Breideckers Vineyard

Breideckers vineyard at Kohukohu, Hokianga was one of New Zealand’s earliest.

Competition victory

The Nobilo Family of winemakers celebrate a major NZ wine competition victory during the 1970s. From left; Nikola and brothers Mark, Steve and Nick.

Corbans on Fort St

Corbans Original Wine Shop

Corbans Original Wine Shop In 1902. Lebanese immigrant Assid Abraham Corban purchased 10 acres of land in Henderson with the intention of starting a vineyard. Corbans grew to become one of the largest and most successful wineries in New Zealand.

Early settlers

Many early settlers brought the skills of grape growing with them.

Field crushing of hand harvested grapes

The crushing of hand harvested grapes at Huapai through a system patented by Nicholas Thomas Nobilo in 1970.

Fortified wine from the 1960’s

A promotional photograph of a bottle of fortified wine from the 1960s.

Master Winemaker

Nikola Nobilo toasts son Nicholas Thomas Nobilo on becoming a Master Winemaker for Nobilo Wine.

Muaga Vineyards

Paul Groshek sits at his Muaga Vineyards on Candia Road, West Auckland, in 1963.

Nick Nobilo chats with Queen Elizabeth the II

Nicholas Thomas Nobilo chats with Queen Elizabeth the Second during a visit to NZ in 1986.

Nikola Nobilo in Lumbarda, Korcula

Nikola Nobilo assists with harvest in Lumbarda, Korcula, on a return visit to his homeland.

Nikola Nobilo operates a hand crusher

Nikola Nobilo operates a hand crusher with his nephew Stipe during a visit home in Lumbarda during the 1970s.

Nikola Nobilo ready for work

Nikola Nobilo dressed in vineyard clothes ready for work in the family’s vineyard in Lumbarda on Korcula.

Nobilo Baco 22A vineyard, 1960

Nobilo Baco 22A vineyard planting at Huapai in 1960. These grapes were used for making the 7 Cellars Brandy.

Nobilo family home in Lumbarda, Korcula

The 500 year old Nobilo family home in Lumbarda, Korcula, still stands today.

Nobilo family homestead, Huapai, Auckland

Nobilo family homestead with vineyard and winery at Huapai, NZ during the 1950s.

Nobilo Lumbarda cellar

The Nobilo Lumbarda cellar is where the famous GRK wine is made. The cellar is 300 years old.

Peter Fredatovich and school children

Peter Fredatovich stands among school children under the the grape vines at Lincoln Vineyards in Henderson, Auckland.

Promoting New Zealand wine

Viticultural Association president Mr George Mazuran shares his thoughts on the New Zealand wine industry during the annual field day of the Viticultural Association of New Zealand held at the Villa Maria winery on 4 February, 1970.

Reverend. Samuel Marsden

In September 1819 Rev. Samuel Marsden planted New Zealand’s first grape vines at the site of the Kerikeri Mission Station in the Bay of Islands.

Romeo Braggato

Romeo Bragatto (1859–1913) was a renowned viticulturist who made a significant contribution to the development of the Australian and New Zealand wine industries. He was the New Zealand government’s chief viticultural advisor from 1902 to 1909.

Scott and Johann Breidecker

Breidecker’s vineyard was one of New Zealand’s early vineyards. Situated at Kohukohu, overlooking the Hokianga Harbour the vineyard was owned by Heinrich Breidecker (right) and his son Johann Breidecker.

Te Kauwhata research vineyard

For nearly a century the New Zealand government ran a viticultural research station at Te Kauwhata, in the Waikato. Numerous varieties were trialled, and cuttings were taken from those that performed well and distributed to growers in other regions.

The island of Korcula

Korcula, where two of the Magnificent 7 brandy pioneers immigrated to New Zealand from. Nobilo and Delegat

The Mission Station 1829-30

Marsden recorded at the time, his hopes for the newly planted vines: “New Zealand promises to be very favourable to the vine, as far as I can judge at present of the nature of the soil and climate. Should the vine succeed, it will prove of vast importance in this part of the globe.

The Te Kauwhata winery

The Te Kauwhata winery was constructed by the New Zealand government in 1902 as the country's first viticulture research station.

Top wine of the New Zealand

Nicholas Thomas Nobilo with the top wine of the NZ national wine competition in 1979. The wine is the 1976 Cabernet Sauvignon the first NZ wine to be commercially exported to the UnIted Kingdom