Our Story
Protector of the vines
Our wine label shows a wonderful painting by New Zealand wildlife artist, Joanna Braithwaite. Co-founder, Mark Wilson discovered this painting and instantly knew that it would be the ideal marque for our family of wines.
With remarkable speed, the Duck Hunter has grown in personality and charm. With gun slung casually over wing, our feathered friend is not the hunted; rather the hunter – the keeper of the estate, protector of the vines and calm champion of the wines. If beaks could talk, he’d surely have a good story to share.
And so, with every bottle, we see the Duck Hunter as a salute to friendship and conversation. We also assure you that no ducks were harmed in the making of our wines.
Acclaimed Marlborough Region Roots
Our Sauvignon Blanc is 100% sourced from the Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley sub-regions and is 100% Sauvignon Blanc Juice.
Our Pinot Noir is sourced primarily from the Comely Bank Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley subregion of Marlborough.
Meet the winemaker
Introducing Jed Penkman, chief Wine Maker for Duck Hunter Wines in Blenheim. Jed has worked closely with Kim Crawford in various capacities since 2011, and first became involved with Duck Hunter production in 2014. Jed is now fully in charge of blending and finishing our Marlborough wines.
Jed is a South Island born kiwi boy, who grew up near Geraldine in South Canterbury. He obtained his Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University in 2002 and worked initially in North Canterbury as a cellar hand. He then moved to France for a year gaining valuable experience as an intern at Champagne Moutard and upon returning to NZ worked for Indevin in Marlborough.
Jed also spent time in the United Kingdom working in Cornwall’s Camel Valley as a winemaker, followed by a year in California in 2006 gaining further viticulture experience as Assistant Cellar Master for Chalk Hill Winery. When he moved back home to NZ, Jed worked in Central Otago for 6 years as Winemaker/Winery Manager for South Island Vintners until returning to Marlborough in 2014 where he currently resides with his wife and young daughter.
Jed enjoys trying different wines from all over the world and the subtle nuances they offer, with good company because “good company makes good wine better.” His philosophy fits well with Duck Hunter Wines, where we believe our greatest inspiration comes from good conversation over a fine wine.