Over 300 years of family wine-making tradition

The Nobilo journey started back in 1937 when my late grandfather Nikola Nobilo arrived into Auckland from his homeland of Croatia. The village of Lumbarda on the island of Korcula to be precise. In 1943 he began planting grapes in Huapai in Auckland’s West. It was here he decided to settle. Gradually the Nobilos led New Zealand away from hybrid grapes to an emphasis on classic grape varieties which produced higher quality wines. He was later joined the family business by my father and two uncle’s, which grew to become one of New Zealand’s largest wineries. In the 1995 New Year Honours list, he was awarded an OBE, for services to the wine industry.
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Our journey began in 2010 whilst on a visit to Adelaide and the McLaren Vale wine region in South Australia. An afternoon spent sampling an array of Shiraz barrels with Andrew Buttery and Mike Brown set the wheels in motion. A couple of months later our award winning (Cuisine Magazine No.1 Best Buy Shiraz) landed in Auckland and the rest is history so to say.

In tandem with the launch of Mt Hillary we also founded Niche Wines, a wholesale distribution business with national reach. To begin with we somewhat specialized in sourcing sub-regional South Australian reds. As our journey has progressed, we have extended the portfolio offering into California with barrel fermented Chardonnay and Zinfandel, France - Provence Rose, Bordeaux and Rhone, Italian Prosecco and Southern Italian reds, Spain Tempranillo, and Garnacha and lastly the emerging still red wines of Portugal. The simple goal of Niche Wines is to be the business that is easy to do business with. We continue to seek and source wines that truly over deliver to the end consumer.

For our own brands and collaborations we source premium parcels of fruit that are an honest reflection of the vintage, express true varietal character but ultimately show the stamp of the trusted winemaker. Collaborations to date with Matt Broomhead winemaker at Three Dark Horses, Blewitt Springs – McLaren Vale, 2 Heads Shiraz and Broomhead + Healy Reserve Shiraz.

 2018 marked an exciting period for Niche Wines with co-founder David Healy joining the business in a full time capacity responsible for business and portfolio development. Dublin born David brings 30+ years of industry experience having served his apprenticeship with Nobilo Vintners under the guidance of the late Steve Nobilo, then to Glengarry Wines, Fullers Wine Merchants, London, the prestigious Berry Bros & Rudd wine merchants in his home town Dublin. On settling back in Auckland 2003 to raise a family, time spent with Maison Vauron, Distinguished Vineyards, Epicurean Wines and finally a ten year tenure with global luxury goods business Moet Hennessy in a senior capacity.
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​Teresa Nobilo-Healy & David Healy