Renowned entrepreneur dies

Entrepreneur and Yealands Estate founder Peter Yealands has died.

The self-described "average Kiwi man" passed away over the weekend at  76-years-old.

The innovative businessman left school 14 years old and has worked for himself for most of his life. A third generation Marlburian he worked across marine, forestry and viticulture industries.

Yealands Wine Group interim CEO Liam Kelly has paid tribute to the company's founder.

"While Peter hasn’t been involved with Yealands for some time now, his legacy definitely 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."

A familiar figure with his flowing white hair and beard, Peter established the Seddon-based winery in 2008 near the coast.

It became renowned for environmentally friendly winery practices including using sheep and chickens to control weeds and pests.

Peter also set up wetlands and used recycled materials for glass bottles and packaging.

The vineyard was the first in the world to be carboNZeroCertTM from inception.

On the Yealands website, it says Peter was known for his irrepressible imagination, coupled with an inexhaustible energy and an unswerving passion.

The company was taken over by Marlborough Lines in 2018 and Peter retired.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor has also paid tribute to Peter who she described "a bold innovator."

“Peter Yealands was a Marlborough-born innovator who helped establish our now significant aquaculture industry through his ‘number 8 wire’ approach  and also made a major contribution to the expansion of the region’s iconic wine industry.

"Peter quickly became legendary in the early days of the green-shelled mussel industry for his innovative ideas, which often came straight out of his garage - for example a machine that made plastic floats.

"He developed his first vineyard at age 50 in Grovetown in 1998 and then the Northbank area in 2000, seeing their potential for vineyards. He founded Yealands Wine Group in 2008 after buying land in the Awatere and establishing New Zealand’s largest privately owned vineyard - Yealands Estate in Seaview – a sub-region that was also new to grapes.

"Amongst many other business activities over the years, he spent much of the 1990s breeding and farming deer. In 2006 he also got the green light for a development in Pelorus Sound, creating the Kaiumu Bay subdivision.

"I send my condolences to Peter’s family and friends. Peter was a bold innovator and entrepreneur. He pushed the boundaries, sometimes to their limits, sometimes beyond, but his passion for Marlborough and the vast potential of our viticulture and aquaculture industries was clear to see.”

Peter was married to Violet Yealands. The couple have two children, Aaron and Danielle.