Nikola "Nick" Nobilo (1913 – 28 August 2007) was a New Zealand winemaker and founder of Nobilo Wines. Nobilo was originally from Croatia.[1]
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Nikola Nobilo was born in present day Croatia in 1913.[1] His family's home village was Lumbarda,[2] located on the island of Korčula. His family had worked in the winemaking industry in Croatia for 300 years before Nobilo moved to New Zealand.[1] Nobilo worked as a stonemason before his emigration.[2]
Nikola Nobilo was ordered by his uncle to move to New Zealand in the 1930s.[2] His uncle feared the signs of what would become World War II in Europe.
Nobilo and his family arrived in New Zealand in 1937 and settled in Huapai.[1] Huapai is located west of the city of Auckland. Nikola Nobilo and his family began planting grapes in Huapai in 1943.[1] Gradually the Nobilos led New Zealand's wine industry away from hybrid grapes to an emphasis on classic grape varieties which produce higher quality wines.[1][2]
Nikola Nobilo came to head the family company, which grew to become on of New Zealand's largest winemakers. In 1998, the company, then called Nobilo Vintners, purchased another award winning New Zealand winemaker, Selaks.[1] The Nobilo family company was, in turn, acquired by BRL Hardy, one of Australia's largest winemakers, 2000.[1] BRL Hardy merged Nobilo with its Constellation Brands wines in 2003.[1]
The new combined company, Constellation Wines, was able to distribute Nobilo wines throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the Americas.[1]
Nikola Nobilo continued to produce wines after the acquisition. Nobilo Wines were named New Zealand's wine producer of the year in 2003.[1] Nobilo's sauvignon blanc also won the award for best sauvignon blanc at the international wine and spirit competition in 2000.[1]
Nikola Nobilo died in Auckland, New Zealand, on 29 August 2007, at the age of 94.[2] His funeral was held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland. He was survived by his wife, Zuva, and three children.[2]