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Story: Marlborough region

Winemakers: Frank Yukich

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Winemakers: Frank Yukich

Frank Yukich of Montana Wines places a silver coin, a token of good fortune, in a hole in which a vine is to be planted, in 1973. Standing behind him is Montana chair David Beattie, later to be governor-general. Yukich sparked off the contemporary era of vineyards and winemaking in Marlborough when he followed the advice of Montana’s viticulturalist and bought up land for vineyards in the 1970s.

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Marlborough Historical Society, Marlborough Museum & Archives

Reference: 1995.183.0001

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Marlborough region – The grape revolution, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/31776/winemakers-frank-yukich (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 9 May 2011, updated 1 November 2016.