Much-loved Australian wine industry veteran dies

Mick Morris, a much-loved veteran winemaker and and one of the Australian wine industry's most respected figures, has died, his family reported today.

Mick (Charles Henry) Morris OAM, was 98.

Over a lifetime dedicated to his craft, he made an enduring contribution to the evolution and success of the Australian wine industry.

Mick Morris started his first official vintage as winemaker in 1953, quickly becoming a pioneer of durif (petite sirah)  as a table wine varietal, and was known for his world-class fortified wines.

His influence extended far beyond Rutherglen, where Morris Wines is based, helping shape Australian wine's reputation both at home and around the world.

"For all his achievements and honours, what those who knew Mick will remember most was the man himself," his son David and grandson Madden said in a media release.

"Mick was a fine, humble, immensely talented and extraordinarily generous person.

"He shared his knowledge freely, encouraged countless people throughout their careers, and remained deeply committed to his family, community and industry. His legacy will live on not only through the wines he helped create and the industry he helped shape, but through the many lives he touched along the way."

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Tuesday, September 1. 

Respected New Zealand wine producer dies

Actor and vigneron Sam Neill has died, his family has confirmed.

“It is with immense sadness that the whanua (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” they posted on social media.

Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-based Neill, the star of multiple films including My Brilliant Career and Jurassic Park, was 78.

“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care,” the family statement said.

“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Neill was diagnosed with blood cancer in March 2022, but recovered.

 

Neill was highly respected in the wine industry, having owned and operated his own pinot noir-focused vineyard Two Paddocks in Central Otago for over three decades.

“We started in 1993 with modest ambitions and first planted five acres of pinot noir at our original little vineyard at Gibbston, Central Otago in the deep south of New Zealand,” Neill said on the winery website, which makes no mention of his career as actor. He was serious about wine. 

“I wanted to produce a good pinot noir that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by my family and friends,” he said.

Two Paddocks now consists of four small certified organic vineyards and produces between 3,000-5,000 cases depending on the vintage.

Remember wild animals are wild, even if they are in refuges

Nothing is more likely to make a tourist behave stupidly than an interaction with a wild animal.

Over the holidays I watched a video of a family of imbeciles feeding a wild moose, who promptly head-butted a young child.

And earlier this week a "stressed" elephant killed a Spanish tourist during a "bathing session" at a Thailand elephant sanctuary, news portal Travel Mole reported.

The 23-year-old woman was hit by the "panic stricken" animal’s trunk, police said.

It happened at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Phang Nga province.

“A female tourist was killed while bathing an elephant,” police chief Jaran Bangprasert said.

Spanish media identified the woman as Blanca Ojanguren García.

She was in a group of about eight tourists at the sanctuary when it happened.

Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said his country's consulate in Bangkok was assisting a Spanish family.

The elephant sanctuary offers various ‘elephant care’ packages which include bathing, walking and preparing food and feeding the elephants.

Deaths by wild elephants are relatively common but rare in elephant refuges and sanctuaries.

New Zealand wine innovator dies

New Zealand winner innovator Peter Yealands has died at the age of 76.

"It's with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our founder, Peter Yealands," Yealands Wines announced.

"After decades of groundbreaking work and a life dedicated to innovation, Peter leaves a legacy of bold thinking and environmental stewardship. His incredible career spanned construction, engineering, marine farming, agriculture, forestry, and viticulture."

It added: "Peter will be deeply missed, and we’ll continue to be guided by his motto 'Think Boldy, Tread Lightly, and never say it can't be done' in everything we do at Yealands."

I visited Yealands in Marlborough several years ago. He was a force of nature; proud of the use of baby doll sheep in the vineyards, and the use of music to encourage the vines to produce quality grapes.

Yealands, a self-made man who left school at 14, died in Blenheim over the weekend. No cause of death was given.

The winery said: "His curiosity and drive lead him to run many successful businesses in the construction, engineering, forestry, marine farming, agriculture and viticulture sectors.

"Over his extensive career, 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 Peter saw otherwise. 

"In the following years, Peter 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 in 2008 - with a focus on sustainability but Yealands retired in 2018 when the business was taken over Marlbourough Lines.

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."

Margaret River mourns wine visionary

The wine community in Western Australia is mourning the death of visionary Dr John Gladstones, whose research led to the founding of the Margaret River wine region over 50 years ago.

Gladstones' two seminal research papers in 1965 and 1966 were fundamental to the foundation of the Margaret River Wine Region.

Gladstones drew parallels between the climate of Margaret River and that of Bordeaux, and inspired the first generation of winemakers to plant vineyards.

Over a half-century on, the region continues to prove its perfect suitability for viticulture, and has established a significant international reputation.

Gladstones, who died at the age of 92, was one of Australia’s most influential agronomists and in 1986 was made a member of the Order of Australia.

He was the recipient of the Margaret River Wine Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. The eastern boundary of the Margaret River Wine Region Geographic Indication (GI) is named in his honour, with the 'Gladstones Line' running north to south at longitude 115°18'E.

Throughout the history of the Margaret River Wine industry, Dr Gladstones was a source of intelligence and an ally to most of our region's greatest achievers, the Margaret River Wine Associated said in a statement.

"His commitment and enthusiasm to excellence in Margaret River wine was unwavering - in 2017 he donated his library to the Margaret River Wine Association, to support the current and next generation."