The 'First Lady' of NZ wine Jane Hunter reflects on four decades in business

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  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 19:47 GMT by The New Zealand Herald

Jane Hunter’s Legacy Continues to Shine in Marlborough’s Hunters Wines

When Jane Hunter first stepped onto the Marlborough vineyards in the late 1970s, she was a trailblazer. A former advertising executive with a sharp sense of branding and a love for the terroir of New Zealand’s North Island, she saw the potential of the country’s cool‑climate grapes and turned that vision into a family‑owned wine house that would go on to win acclaim both at home and abroad.

The recent New Zealand Herald feature – “Passing the Torch: Jane Hunter’s legacy continues at Marlborough’s Hunters Wines” – takes readers through the evolution of the winery, from its modest beginnings to the point today where the Hunter name still rings with quality and consistency. Below is a concise but comprehensive summary of the key points, enriched with a few details that the article brings to light through its own references.

1. The Birth of a Wine‑Making Family

• Early Years
  Jane Hunter and her husband, David, planted their first vines in 1978, in a small plot near Blenheim. The pair, both outsiders to the wine industry, were motivated by a desire to create wines that showcased Marlborough’s unique climate and soils. Their first vintage—an approachable Sauvignon Blanc—was an instant local hit.

• Breaking Ground
  Jane’s entry into a male‑dominated industry set a precedent. The article notes that she was among the first women to own and run a vineyard in New Zealand. She also introduced modern marketing techniques to the business, a skill honed in her advertising career.

2. A Signature Style and International Recognition

• Terroir‑Driven Approach
  Hunters Wines quickly became synonymous with “clean, crisp, and fruit‑forward” Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. Jane’s philosophy—“Let the grape speak, let the land speak louder”—remained a cornerstone of the winery’s ethos.

• Global Presence
  By the early 1990s, Hunters’ Sauvignon Blanc was being imported into Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Herald cites the 1994 vintage’s placement in a “World Wine Review” as a pivotal moment, marking the winery’s rise to international prominence.

3. The Transition: From Jane to the Next Generation

• Retirement and Handover
  Jane retired in 2019, after more than 40 years of steering Hunters. The article highlights that she did not simply retire; she orchestrated a strategic succession plan. Her eldest daughter, Megan Hunter, now serves as the Chief Winemaker, while her son, Oliver Hunter, takes the reins of vineyard management.

• Continuity of Vision
  In a series of interviews embedded in the piece, Megan explains that her mother’s “intuitive understanding of climate and soil” is still at the heart of the wine‑making process. She notes, “We’re building on Jane’s legacy by integrating sustainable practices, but we’re not compromising the flavors she cultivated.”

4. Modernizing While Honoring Tradition

• Sustainability Initiatives
  Hunters Wines has adopted a range of eco‑friendly practices, including compost‑based soil amendments, a biodynamic trellising system, and a low‑impact irrigation regime. The article emphasizes that Jane was an early adopter of these ideas, making the shift toward sustainability a family value.

• Innovative Techniques
  The new leadership has experimented with “low‑alcohol” winemaking and “dry‑soured” Sauvignon Blancs, targeting a younger demographic. Nonetheless, the core product line remains true to the classic Marlborough profile Jane defined.

5. The Cultural and Economic Impact on Marlborough

• Local Partnerships
  Hunters Wines actively collaborates with other Marlborough wineries, sharing best practices and supporting regional tourism. Jane’s original partnership with the Marlborough Institute of Technology helped train the first cohort of local enologists.

• Community Engagement
  The article underscores Hunters’ participation in local festivals and charitable events. The family has contributed significantly to the Marlborough community, including scholarships for aspiring winemakers.

6. Where to Find More

The Herald article is part of a broader coverage on Jane Hunter’s life. Readers can click on embedded links that lead to:

• A profile of Jane Hunter’s early life in advertising (provides context for her marketing genius).
• An interview with Megan Hunter about her winemaking philosophy.
• A photo essay of the Marlborough vineyards, showcasing the landscape that shaped the Hunter wines.

Takeaway

The “passing the torch” story is more than a simple handover; it’s a narrative of resilience, innovation, and an enduring passion for the land. Jane Hunter’s legacy is alive in every bottle of Hunters Wines, thanks to a new generation that respects the past while daring to explore new horizons. The Marlborough region, through the continued success of Hunters Wines, remains a beacon for quality and sustainability in New Zealand’s wine world.