Hunter, who arrived in Marlborough in 1983, has played an integral role in making Marlborough a household name in international wine circles.

Starting as a viticulturist for Montana Wines, she went on to marry Ernie Hunter, the founder of one of Marlborough’s first wineries. When Ernie died in 1987, Jane took over the reins of the company. Now, 29 years later, she is often referred to as New Zealand’s first woman of wine.

Hunter has been a board member of the New Zealand Wine Institute, and was a founding director of the New Zealand Wine Guild, an export arm of the national body. Her management skills have been recognised by the New Zealand 2000 Task Board, Horticulture Research Board, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise board and Plant and Food Research board.

In 1993, she received an OBE for her services to viticulture and in 2009 she was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Recognition of her role in the development of the New Zealand wine industry is not limited to this country. Hunter was awarded the inaugural Wine & Spirit Competition for Women in Wine Award in the UK and recently was awarded Wolf Blass AM Award for the development of Riesling.

The annual award is given in recognition of services to the wine industry over a period of time.