Two varieties of Hunter’s Wine have been recognised with trophies at the 2017 Marlborough Wine Show, picking up the Winemakers’ Association of Marlborough trophy for Champion Sparkling Wine, as well as The Marlborough Museum Legacy Award.
The trophies, presented to the Hunter’s MiruMiru Reserve 2013, and Hunter’s Riesling 2016, 2012 and 2006, are the latest in a string of awards for the team, who put great efforts into producing quality wines.
“The last 12 months have seen us pick up the Wolf Blass Award, the Rose Bowl trophy and now the Legacy Award for Riesling,” said Hunter’s Wines managing director Jane Hunter. “Our wines are primarily going into restaurants and fine dining; we want these wines to age well and these awards indicate that we are on the right track.”
The Legacy Award is presented by the Marlborough Wine Show, together with the Marlborough Museum, to acknowledge producers whose wines offer significant pedigree.
Hunter’s winemaker Inus van der Westhuizen was at the awards last week to collect the trophies, and said that the team was very pleased to receive the award.
“Quality first is very much part of what everyone is striving for at Hunter’s Wines,” he said. “A lot of effort goes into making this wine and it’s very satisfying when the wine gets the acknowledgement it deserves.”
A major part of the MiruMiru success is that Hunter’s have now been producing sparkling wine since 1987, and have a good understanding of the grape varieties, the blending and ageing processes, and interactions within the complex wine style.
“We have adapted the French champagne methodology to suit our New Zealand sparkling wine with the resultant complex but elegant sparkling wine unashamedly New Zealand,” said Hunter. “The MiruMiru range has been hugely successful for us here and in our export markets, and continuing awards add to the kudos of this wine and have given us a very valuable niche market. We are immensely proud to receive yet another award for this wine.”
