Marlene wine named for former exchange ‘daughter’ (NZ)

An Austrian exchange student who inspired her host family to pioneer a variety of grape new to New Zealand returned to their Bannockburn vineyard a decade later to help harvest the crop. And Marlene Günther (27) feels very honoured to have the Gruner Veltliner wine named after her, reports Otago Daily Times. “It’s very special, sitting with a glass of your own wine at the end of the day, and I’ve put some effort into this wine, helping with the thinning and the harvest, so this vintage will be even more special,” she said.