HEARTS IN MARLBOROUGH SINCE 1980, ROOTS IN CHAMPAGNE SINCE 1684. No.1 Family Estate is a specialist and boutique Méthode Champenoise winery founded by Adele and Daniel Le Brun. It is the only winery in New Zealand committed exclusively to producing premium Méthode Traditionelle wine. The award-winning winemaker has created wines that rival the best in the world using methods perfected over twelve generations by his family in Champagne. The first record of a Le Brun planting vines in Champagne is in 1684. From a young age, Daniel was immersed in the family business. After studying winemaking and working at the family winery, he visited New Zealand, saw the potential and emigrated. In 1980 he planted the first grapes dedicated to sparkling wine production in Marlborough’s beautiful Wairau Valley. Daniel pioneered the specific growing techniques and production methods at that time. He saw immediately that the climate and soils of Marlborough create a Methode Traditionelle with crisp acidity that would rival Champagne.