The Marlborough Wine Exhibition

Early Heritage and Government Vision

Regional viticulture began in 1873 when David Herd planted 0.4 hectares of Brown Muscat grapes at Auntsfield. He crafted red port-style wines on the property until his death in 1905. Craftsmen restored his original cellar during the 2010s. A bronze statue honouring Herd now stands at Blenheim Airport.

Official interest grew in January 1897 when the Department of Agriculture published a dedicated viticultural report. By 1904, the Government Viticulturist reported that Marlborough wines compared favourably with imported European vintages. He called for statutory regulations against adulterated wine, establishing a regional quality benchmark that took seven decades to realise.

The Modern Expansion and Global Rise

Montana Wines planted the first commercial vineyard blocks at Brancott in August 1973. Early drought threatened the vines, but growers protected rootstocks using wax cones and potted vines. A planning appeal led by Chris and Phil Rose between 1975 and 1978 permitted viticulture across the Rapaura plains. International recognition surged after Irish winemaker Ernie Hunter collected three consecutive gold medals in London from 1986. His wife Jane Hunter later received an OBE and CNZM for services to viticulture. Pastoral farmers planted the first Awatere Valley vines that same year.

Marlborough's climate proved ideal for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, pairing hot sunshine and cool nights with free-draining soils. Cloudy Bay captured global attention with its 1985 vintage, launching an extraordinary export expansion. Regional vineyard plantings grew from 1,744 hectares in 1992 to more than 22,600 hectares by 2012. Sauvignon Blanc expanded to represent approximately 85% of regional vineyard plantings. Today, Marlborough produces more than 75% of New Zealand wine and yields roughly 80% of national export volume.

Gallery Collections and Exhibition Credits

The exhibition documents this working heritage through vintage cellar machinery, barrel cooperage, laboratory glassware, and hand-operated basket presses. Visitors can inspect rare historic bottles alongside archival photography, interactive displays, and recorded oral histories. These resources follow the winemakers, cellar hands, and pioneering families who shaped the modern industry.

Viticulture scientist Dr Adam Friend curated the gallery with designer Sally Papps and project manager Virginia Watson. Funding support was provided by Marlborough District Council, Marlborough Lines, and the Lottery Grants Board. Commercial sponsors include Hunter's Wines, Auntsfield, Yealands, Jackson Estate, Nautilus, Wither Hills, Forrest, Lawson's Dry Hills, Fromm, and Villa Maria. The museum also thanks John Rainey, Belinda Vavasour, Jenny Pierson, Pam and Tom Woodward, and the Marlborough Historical Society.