On the eve of Sauvignon Blanc 2027, you are invited to join NZ Women in Wine for a fascinating journey through the decades since this unique wine took the world by storm. Hear inspiring tales from a panel of leading women, mingle and enjoy a vibrant, informal celebration as we channel our 80s, 90s and 21st century vibes. Everyone welcome (men and women).
Date: Monday 1 February 2027
Time: 5.00 – 7.00 pm
Venue: Wither Hills Barrel Hall
Cost: $60 incl GST. Ticket includes wine and canapés.
Wine industry only. R18
We are delighted to have Jane Hunter, Erica Crawford, Eva Pemper, Kelly Stuart and Rachael Everitt as our panel which will be chaired by Fiona Fenwick. Patricia Miranda-Taylor will welcome us to Wither Hills It is set to be a fascinating and upbeat session.
Fiona Fenwick has been part of the New Zealand wine industry for the past decade and is a passionate and enthusiastic, Marlborough based, Woman in Wine !
Her ‘decades' have navigated a corporate leadership career, several start up businesses as well as governance in Elite Level Sport, Entertainment, Hospitality and Food. She is a public speaker and author of ‘Stand Out and Step Up’, with her next book due for release soon.
Her current decade is focusing on coaching and mentoring - both in NZ and overseas as well as leading luxury travel groups to exotic global destinations.
Fiona was named one of Cuisine magazine's most influential and inspiring women in food and drink in Aotearoa New Zealand in their inaugural awards.
Passions are travel, family, food, wine and more travel !
Patricia Miranda -Taylor - Welcome
Patricia is Senior Winemaker at Wither Hills Vineyards and will be welcoming us to the beautiful cellar.She has over two decades of winemaking experience in New Zealand and internationally in 13 countries, including Loire Valley, Burgundy, California, Austria and Germany.
An Agricultural Engineer trained in Chile, specialising in Economics, Oenology and Viticulture, she began her career at the Central Bank of Chile before coming to New Zealand to work vintage 2004.She then progressed into senior winemaking roles, including Chief Winemaker at Isabel Estate and winemaking positions at Yealands and Villa Maria prior to joining Wither Hills.
Patricia is passionate about helping others progress and an advocate for diversity and development initiatives in the New Zealand wine industry.She has served as Chair of Marlborough Women in Wine and sat on our National Steering Group.She is also an Executive Board member of Méthode Marlborough and a Young Winemaker committee member.
Jane Hunter O.B.E., CNZM Executive Director, Hunter’s Wines (NZ) Ltd
Renowned as the "First Lady of New Zealand Wine," Jane Hunter has been a transformative force in the country's wine industry since taking the helm at Hunter’s Wines in 1987. After the sudden passing of her husband, Ernie Hunter, who founded the Marlborough-based winery in 1978, Jane stepped up as owner, viticulturist, and managing director. Under her leadership, Hunter’s Wines grew fivefold in size and established itself as a trailblazer in the production of premium New Zealand wines, with exports to over a dozen international markets.
Jane was born in South Australia, where her family cultivated grapes in the Riverland region, just north of the famed Barossa Valley. She earned her degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide and initially pursued a career in animal husbandry before shifting to viticulture. Moving to New Zealand in the early 1980s, Jane led Montana Wines' national viticulture programme, gaining extensive industry experience along the way.
The ongoing success of Hunter’s Wines is rooted in Jane’s steadfast dedication to quality over quantity. The winery has garnered numerous awards, including top honours for their Sauvignon Blancs and MiruMiru™ sparkling wines. Hunter’s Wines’ innovative practices include a pioneering contract grower system, ensuring consistent production focused on quality.
Jane’s remarkable achievements have earned her numerous accolades. In 1993, she was awarded an O.B.E for her contributions to viticulture, followed by a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2009. She holds an honorary Doctor of Science from Massey University and has been recognised with multiple industry awards, including the prestigious Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into both the New Zealand Winegrowers Fellows and the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. In 2003 she was awarded the Inaugural International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Women in Wine Award in the UK.
Committed to innovation, sustainability and showcasing New Zealand’s unique character, Jane has played a pivotal role in establishing Marlborough as a world-renowned wine region. Her influence extends beyond the vineyard and cellar, with a lasting commitment to restoring native landscapes and advancing sustainable practices at Hunter’s Wines. Today, her nephews, James and Edward, carry the family legacy forward, taking the company into a new era of excellence and international acclaim.
Eva Pemper – Founder & Winemaker, Eva Pemper Wines
Eva Pemper is a Croatian-born winemaker whose journey from her family’s winemaking roots in Croatia to the sunlit vineyards of Marlborough, New Zealand, is a story of passion, resilience and transformation. Inspired by her parents, who continued making wine in their garage during the Croatian war, Eva carries forward a family legacy built on determination, authenticity and a deep love of winemaking. In 2019 Eva Pemper Wines was born in Marlborough
At the heart of Eva Pemper Wines is a simple philosophy: great wine should have character, elegance and a sense of place, while remaining approachable and enjoyable. With a focus on Sauvignon Blanc, alongside other varietals, the wines combine Marlborough’s vibrant fruit intensity with texture, balance and complexity.
More than a wine brand, Eva Pemper Wines is a personal expression of Eva’s journey and heritage. Every bottle brings together the traditions she grew up with, the land she now calls home, and the belief that wine is ultimately about people, connection and shared moments around the table.
Rachael Everitt, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Invivo
From potatoes to streaming channels and a winery airline, Rachael has spent 20 years making a story out of just about anything. Today she’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Invivo.
Rachael grew up in Kent, England, devouring weekly celebrity mags and newspapers - an early curiosity for pop culture and news that shaped the career to come. After a Master’s in Sociology, she started out in London PR, with a stint in New York, working with retail, food, drink and entertainment brands to get people talking about them.
In 2016 she moved to Auckland to head up food and drink at a local PR agency, which is where she met Invivo’s Co-founders, Tim and Rob. She’s now been with Invivo for seven years, leading global marketing and communications through its biggest period of growth, including launching in the US.
Along the way she’s worked with Invivo’s long-term business partners Graham Norton and Sarah Jessica Parker to grow the GN and Invivo X, SJP wine brands, launched Invivo Air - the world’s first winery airline - and most recently developed and launched NZ wine innovation Spicy Jalapeño Sauvignon Blanc around the world.
Rachael was named one of Cuisine’s Most Inspiring Women in Food and Drink in 2023, and as part of the Invivo team has picked up a New Zealand International Business Award for Excellence in Brand Storytelling (2025) and three New Zealand Marketing Awards trophies over the past six years.
