KEY POINTS:
Two of the most influencial figureheads of New Zealand business have died overnight.
Construction industry legend Sir James Fletcher, aged 92, and pioneer winemaker Nick Nobilo, (94) both passed away peacefully in the last 24 hours in Auckland.
Nikola 'Nick' Nobilo founded the Nobilo Wines empire in 1943 after emigrating six years earlier from Croatia where the family's winemaking tradition goes back more than 300 years.
Construction companies under the Fletcher banner have been public entities on the New Zealand business scene since 1940.
At the age of only 27, in 1942, James (Jim) Fletcher became Managing Director of the newly-created Fletcher Holdings, which began its existence with around 300 employees and an annual turnover of £2.2 million ($4.4 million).
As well as a stellar business career, Sir James was also a patron of the arts.
His keen personal interest in New Zealand art was demonstrated in the establishment in 1962 of the Fletcher Trust Collection, now one of the country's largest private collections.
He was also a former president of The Auckland Racing Club and vice president of the Auckland division of the NZ Cancer Society.
Fletcher was knighted in 1980 for services to industry and the community.
His funeral will be held next Tuesday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, in Parnell.
A Croat immigrant, Nikola Nobilo, whose family history and winemaking background stretches back over 300 years in Europe, also started his New Zealand business career in the 40s.
His family settled in Huapai, West Auckland, and started planting vines in 1943.
The Nobilo family were key drivers in taking the New Zealand wine industry away from hybrid grape varieties and fortified wines, to classic varietals and the pursuit of a higher level of quality wine.
In September 1998, Nobilo Vintners, then a family company, purchased another successful New Zealand wine company, Selaks, to form a stronger wine association. Selaks brands Premium Selection and Founders Reserve are multiple award winners both in New Zealand and overseas.
In mid-2000, Australia's second largest wine producer, BRL Hardy, purchased Nobilo Vintners, which later merged with Constellation Brands Inc. in 2003.
The resultant global wine company, Constellation Wines, now incorporates the parent company's wine interests in the USA, Australia, UK/Europe, South America and New Zealand.
Nobilo Wine Group won New Zealand wine producer of the year in 2003 at the international wine and spirit competition and its sauvignon blanc won the best sauvignon blanc award at the same competition in 2000.
Nick Nobilo's funeral is scheduled for next Wednesday.
* SOURCE: Nobilo Wines website
- NZHERALD STAFF
* Obituary - Sir James Fletcher
* A tribute to the life of Sir James Fletcher can be found on the Fletcher Trust website.
