• About Mt Rosa

There are a few yarns going round the wine world about our place - the Gibbston Valley, deep in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

They reckon it's one of the better spots to grow Pinot Noir grapes, so fifteen years ago we sent the last of the sheep off to greener paddocks, and planted some vines.

It turns out the dry stony soil grows pretty good grapes, so we planted more vines, trying a few different varieties. In two shakes of lambs tail we had one of the biggest vineyards in the region.

Size isn't everything, of course, but all manner of people seem to get quite excited after a mouthful of our wines. Michael Cooper, who wrote the Wine Atlas of New Zealand, even wrote “Possibly the best Pinot Gris to come out of Central Otago yet” about our 2003 vintage.

We're not given to displays of emotion - except on Bledisloe Test days, of course - but deep down we're a wee bit pleased with the kerfuffle our wines have caused. And we'd be even better pleased if you and your mates enjoy them too.

– Mt Rosa directors Guy Boanas and Jeremy Railton

Characters behind Mt Rosa

Great wine is all about character, and this is what Mt Rosa is founded on.

Queenstown-based directors Guy Boanas and Jeremy Railton are characters in their own right, and Mt Rosa promises to bring some fresh new perspectives to the dynamic New World wines.

Gary Crabbe is Mt Rosa’s vigneron extraordinaire, being a Canadian export he has studied and trained throughout North America, Australia and New Zealand in the field of viticulture. Gary refuses to be photographed and at best all we could do is provide a rough sketch of him if required. 

Mt Rosa’s winemaker Dean Shaw has produced vintages in Burgundy and Alsace (France) and Oregon (US). As is customary in Burgundy, all Mt Rosa’s Pinot Noir is aged in French oak barrels for 10 months.