Family of Greg Golding, patriarch of Golding Wines, pays tribute to ‘a charmer, a joker and a gentleman’ after fatal car accident

The patriarch of Adelaide Hills’ Golding Wines has been remembered as “a charmer, a joker and a gentleman” who treated his customers as honoured friends.

Greg Golding and his wife, Connie, in their vineyard in 1997. Supplied: Golding family​

The patriarch of Adelaide Hills’ Golding Wines has been remembered as “a charmer, a joker and a gentleman” who treated his customers as honoured friends.

Greg Golding, 75, who started the Lobethal winery with his family, went missing on Friday afternoon about 3pm.

His disappearance sparked a search operation, which ended early Saturday morning when it was discovered he had been in a fatal car accident on the property.

The Golding family said in a statement they were deeply saddened by the loss of a husband, father and grandfather who was “a true character in every sense of the word”.

Greg Golding has been remembered as “a true character in every sense of the word”. Photo: Golding Wines/Facebook.

“Greg treated everyone he met like they were the most important person in the world,” the family said.

“He was a charmer, a joker and a gentleman, with a cheeky smile and twinkle in his eye.”

The family said Mr Golding was a hard worker who, with his brother, ran a successful apple and pear business before turning his hand to grape growing in the 1990s.

Together with his wife, Connie, and son, Darren, he began propagating and planting the family’s Western Branch Vineyard in 1995. The Lobethal property also became the family home.

Darren and his wife, Lucy, eventually took over running the vineyard and established the Golding Wine brand, but Mr Golding remained an integral part of the business.

“He could often be found working in the cellar door gardens and, on weekends, his favourite place to be was chatting to customers in the cellar door,” the family said.

“Many of these customers now consider themselves friends.”

The family of Greg Golding said his love for his wife, Connie, knew no bounds. Supplied: Golding family

The family remembered Mr Golding as a wonderful father to children Jo, Darren and Lindy and a beloved papa to nine grandchildren, and said his love for Connie knew no bounds.

“He will be forever missed,” they said.

News of Mr Golding’s passing prompted a flood of tributes on social media, with some describing him as “one in a million” and “a beautiful person and a true gentleman”.

Many comments came from others within the industry, including a post by Lenswood winery Anderson Hill that described Mr Golding as “a founder of viticulture in this area and a beautiful family man”.

In recent times Golding Wines has faced significant challenges, including the devastating bushfires that tore through the Adelaide Hills during the summer of 2019-2020.

The small family business continues to rise to meet these challenges, but the passing of Mr Golding is yet another blow.

The winery will be closed over the weekend. The family thanked everyone who was involved in the search for Mr Golding, which stretched through the night.

SA Police confirmed the death was not suspicious.