Mr Wignall (79) died on July 27. He is survived by his wife Pat, four children and eight grandchildren.

A former vet, Mr Wignall turned his Charolais stud on Chester Pass Road into a vineyard in 1982 when he planted his first vines.

The first vintage in 1985 was followed the next year with his first gold medals for pinot noir and chardonnay.

He retired at the ripe age of 74 in 2004, and Wignalls Wines was carried on by his son, Rob.