Assid Abraham Corban

Assid Corban did not start the New Zealand wine industry, but he and his family did more to commercialise it than anyone else.

Their West Auckland-based company was sold in 1975, but the Corbans brand lives in premium wines.

Virtually all the developments that led to Corbans Wines' success can be traced to the Corban family and its New Zealand founder.

Born in Lebanon, Assid Corban arrived in New Zealand in 1892, initially working as a trader on the Coromandel Peninsula.

In 1902 he bought a piece of scrubby gumland near Henderson to grow grapes. Seven years later, he was selling wine and by the early 1920s his wines were finding favour throughout the country.

Assid Abraham Corban

Inducted: 1997

Industry: Wine

DOD: 1941