Miru Miru, Hunter’s, Marlborough NV

Irishman Ernie Hunter arrived in Marlborough in 1979, long before the region became world-famous for wine. With vision and determination, he planted vines and crafted his first vintage in 1982, winning six medals at the National Wine Show. His wife, Jane, a South Australian viticulturist, has since guided Hunter’s Wines for over three decades, earning both an OBE and CNZM for her service to the industry.

Today, Jane’s nephew, Chief Winemaker James MacDonald, continues the family legacy across more than 100 hectares of sustainably certified vineyards in the Wairau Valley. Hunter’s remains the only Marlborough estate founded in the 1970s still in original family ownership. With guidance from the late Dr. Tony Jordan, Hunter’s has built a reputation for exceptional sparkling wines none more so than the rich, toasty, and elegant Miru Miru.

Pale straw coloured with a creamy nose backed by aromas of white peach and lemon. The palate is quite rich and fruity, with yeasty flavours mingling with red fruits and citrus followed by a toasty gentle finish.