WineNZ Summer 2019-20

First Lady of Wine | Feature
A heron sculpture lurks in one corner of a neatly clipped hedge.
If you stick around long
enough, awards and
recognition comes.
blanc in particular to the world’s
notice. However, in 1987 Ernie
was tragically killed in a motor
accident.
Jane Hunter, a viticulturist
working for Montana at the
time, took over the reins and her
determination and expertise
built the company her late
husband had founded into one
of New Zealand’s leading wine
producers.
Jane has been described by
the London Sunday Times as the
“First Lady of New Zealand Wine”
and was awarded an OBE for
service to the wine industry in
1993. Among other awards and
recognitions, she also has an
Honorary Doctorate of Science
from Massey University, received
the inaugural Wine & Spirit
Competition Women in Wine
Award and was awarded the
Companion to the New Zealand
Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2009.
Most recently she was inducted
into the New Zealand Business
Hall of Fame.
But despite all her awards and
achievements she remains low
key, gracious, and even slightly
self-effacing,
“If you stick around long
enough awards and recognition
comes,” she says modestly.
Her reserve is reflected in her
house and garden tucked away
down a private lane in Renwick.
Jane and her husband Graeme
Coates both love gardening
and about three years ago they
moved into a spacious house
A deer made of
vine cuttings lurks
in the bushes.
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