Passions, talents shared generously
Gibbston identity
HE came from far away, but Terry Stevens turned into a beloved member of the Gibbston and wider Queenstown Lakes communities.
Mr Stevens, who died on November 25, aged 74, was a popular and innovative part of the wine scene around Queenstown.
He also played a key role in developing the worldclass Queenstown Trail, and was a wellknown member of the local golfing scene.
Mr Stevens and wife and Susan, who had come to Queenstown from the United States in the late 1990s, were among the first to purchase a vineyard block on the former Wentworth Station in 1999.
They married there that year, built their home, and established the Wild Hare label with pinot noir grapes grown in the vineyard alongside their house.
Mr Stevens had retired in March 1998 at the age of 51, and moved with Susan to Napa Valley, California, to enjoy the wine, food, and relaxed lifestyle.
He loved learning about the wine business from Tudal Winery patriarch Arnold Tudal, while sitting at the kitchen table in the home they rented at the Tudal Winery vineyard in St Helena.
The Stevens decided to tour Australian and New Zealand wine country for six months to expand their knowledge, and from the moment they saw Gibbston, they had no doubts it was where they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. They were granted New Zealand residency in 1999 and became citizens three years later.
Although Mr Stevens had sworn never to enter the wine business when they were living in Napa Valley, he was excited by the opportunity to create another business that would allow him to learn more about wine from the ground up in the fledgling Central Otago industry.
‘‘Terry was a stalwart of our young industry and passionate about Gibbston,” former neighbour and Gibbston pioneer Alan Brady said.
‘‘He was a member of the Central Otago Winegrowers Association and always ready to support winemaking events, and he and Susan were driving forces as the Gibbston community developed around grapegrowing.’’
Mr Stevens never stopped loving learning from Central winemakers, viticulturists, and selfstudy, but his greatest enjoyment came around the table enjoying wine with friends.
He believed that winetasting was best done with food, so hospitality became integral to the Wild Hare brand — Halloween parties, harvest parties, cellar parties and heaps of dinner parties.
Terry Wayne Stevens was born in Yakima, Washington, to Marie Adeline Cumming and Thurston (Bob) Lavon Stevens, in 1946.
His marketing experience began after he received his bachelor of science degree in economics from Washington State University in 1968.
He built a long and successful career in the US pharmaceutical industry, starting with Burroughs Wellcome Company (BW) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, from March 1969 to December 1993.
Mr Stevens served in several sales and marketing capacities at BW. He created its consumer products division in 1986, headed it as general manager, and built it into one of the larger overthecounter businesses in the US.
He was appointed a vicepresident of BW in 1988 and became a member of the board of directors. He was also active in the National Association of Chain Drug Stores associates advisory board and the National Advertising Review Board.
In January 1993, Glaxo Inc acquired BW to form Glaxo Wellcome Inc. Mr Stevens joined WarnerLambert Consumer Healthcare in 1994 with the formation of the Warner Wellcome and Glaxo Joint Ventures.
In 2008, Mr Stevens was shouldertapped when the Queenstown Trails Trust needed a chairman with strong marketing, branding and business skills.
Together, he and thenchief executive Kaye Parker worked on an initial application for part of a $50million ‘‘pot of gold’’ put up by the Government to develop Great Rides.
The trust was awarded $2 million, for the $6million Queenstown Trail, which opened on time and fully funded.
Mr Stevens insisted that the Queenstown Trail be worldclass. His careful and considered stewardship of the trust over the development period resulted in the trail attracting more than 450,000 users per year since opening in October 2012, making it the most used Great Ride in the country.
That success has also enabled new businesses to open and existing ones to expand and thrive.
‘‘I thought I had already served with the best chairman possible at Cure Kids . . . until that lucky day the trust took me on to work with him [Mr Stevens],’’ Mrs Parker said.
‘‘I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life and think of him on every ride or walk.”
Mr Stevens joined Millbrook Country Club in September 1999. He spent a lot of time working on his golf, making friends, establishing Wild
Hare Wines front and centre of Millbrook’s wine lists and shelves, and making a considerable contribution to the Millbrook experience and community.
He spent several years on the members’ committee from 2001, and was chairman at least twice. He brought professionalism, passion and plenty of advice to the table regularly, even after he was no longer officially involved.
‘‘Millbrook members have Terry to thank for our expansive event schedule as he made Members’ Fridays and TGIFs happen and developed the majority of today’s programme,’’ Millbrook membership services and sales coordinator Adele Robins said.
‘‘I recall the schedule of events when I started was covered in a folded A5 sheet, but now includes over 100 events.’’
Mr Stevens was ‘‘a committed golfer’’, she said.
‘‘He was one of a kind and one of our few lefties, managed many titles and wins during his time as a member, pocketed plenty of prizes, but his greatest achievement was the amount of friends and respect he attracted.’’
Mr Stevens joined The Hills Golf Club in 2013, adding Sundays to his already busy weekly golf schedule.
‘‘Terry was a keen advocate for making the golf course more fun to play for the widest array of golfers,’’ The Hills director of golf Craig Palmer said.
‘‘Terry’s enthusiasm, eagerness to engage others and generous support of club events had a big impact at The Hills. His smile, infectious laugh and quick wit will be sorely missed by all.’’
Mr Stevens was ‘‘Mr Millbrook” to many new members he made feel welcome over the years, ‘‘the Wild Hare’’ to others who enjoyed sharing a good glass of wine and friendly banter, a fine boss to those lucky enough to work and play hard under his charismatic leadership, and a great husband, father, brother and friend.
He is survived by his beloved wife Susan and daughters Suzanne and Melissa StevensMichael.
— Supplied