Yealands Wines is paying tribute to founder Peter Yealands, who passed away in Blenheim on 30 November.

The company has described him as: “A visionary known for his irrepressible imagination, inexhaustible energy, and unswerving passion; Peter was a true entrepreneur with a relentless determination to overcome challenges.”

Peter Yealands ran many successful businesses in the construction, engineering, forestry, marine farming, agriculture and viticulture sectors over his extensive career. His achievements included obtaining New Zealand’s first marine farming license and pioneering the development of mussel farming in the Marlborough Sounds, setting up Kaiuma Deer Estate, and designing ship buoys and life rafts for the maritime industry.

In 1998, Peter developed his first vineyard in the Wairau Valley. Two years later, he purchased a block of land in the Awatere Valley and started developing the Yealands Seaview Vineyard. At the time, Seaview’s landscape of rugged, undulating terrain and wild coastal winds was considered unsuitable for grape growing, but he continued to purchase adjacent farmland to establish what is now one of New Zealand’s largest and most coastal single vineyard sites.

Yealands Estate Winery officially opened for business on 8 August 2008 and just four years later Yealands Estate Single Block Sauvignon Blanc S1 was named the world's best at the International Wine Challenge in 2012.

Peter retired in 2018 and the company says that his motto “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly and Never Say It Can’t Be Done” remains a core philosophy at Yealands Wines.

Yealands Wine Group interim CEO, Liam Kelly, said: “While Peter hadn’t been involved with Yealands for some time, his legacy lives on in the business built through his inspiring vision and relentless determination. A number of our team members worked closely with Peter and still talk fondly about him. We extend our condolences to the family.”