Founder of NZ’s Elephant Hill winery dies

The founder of Hawke’s Bay winery Elephant Hill, has died.

Roger Weiss passed away in Germany on 21 September

Roger Weiss, who founded the Elephant Hill estate and vineyard in Te Awanga with his wife in 2008, died suddenly on 21 September while in Germany, a notice posted in Hawke’s Bay Today read.

The notice described Weiss as the “dearly loved husband of Reydan, and much loved father and father-in-law of Andreas and Karina, Christina and Helge, Rania and Randy”. He was a grandfather to eight.

Weiss was reported to have been in his early 70s.

The Elephant Hill winery was founded by Roger and his wife Reydan following a visit to the region in 2001. According to its website, the pair “envisaged owning a state-of-the-art winery, merging the traditional values of wine making with an innovative approach and contemporary style to produce exceptional wines to savour and enjoy.”

Today, the winery is overseen by winemaker Steve Skinner and Mr Weiss’ son, Andreas, as its CEO. Specialising in Syrah, while producing several other varieties, the winery was awarded a Master medal for its 2013 Reserve Syrah in the Drinks Business Global Syrah Masters 2016 – an award given only to the most exceptional wines.

Typically made in a more northern-Rhône-like manner, Hawke’s Bay is fast gaining a reputation for its Syrah, which tends toward more moderate alcohol levels and appealing notes of white pepper spice.

Paying tribute to Weiss, the estate’s staff said: “Roger was admired by all those involved at Elephant Hill and an inspiration to many within the Hawke’s Bay community.”