A new story in wine begins here at Mt Rosa 2026
Every great vineyard has a story, and in 2026 ours began.
Around 30 years ago, the land that is now Mt Rosa was a high-country sheep farm. As farming changed and the potential of Gibbston's unique soils became clear, the decision was made to plant vines, beginning a new chapter for this remarkable property.
Today, those same rocky schist soils, warm summer days and cool nights produce wines that capture the unique character of Central Otago. More than 25 years later, Mt Rosa has become one of Gibbston's established vineyards, producing elegant, cool-climate wines enjoyed by visitors from around the world.
When Sophie and I became the custodians of Mt Rosa in 2026, we inherited far more than a vineyard. We became part of a legacy, and our role isn't to change what makes Mt Rosa special—it's to build on it. By caring for the land, respecting its history and welcoming guests with genuine hospitality, we hope to continue that story for many years to come.
Whether you're joining us for your first tasting or returning to enjoy another vintage, we look forward to welcoming you to Mt Rosa and sharing this special place with you.
Mt Rosa Vineyard gibbston
Our vines
Clone 5 Pinot Noir
Clone 115 Pinot Noir
Clone 6 Pinot Noir
Clone 10/5 Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
Sav Blanc
Pinot Blanc
The rams' paddock
Where there are vines today, in 1900 you would have been surrounded by sheep!
Mt Rosa was originally part of the Kawarau Station which ran over 40,000 sheep. In 1903, the snow killed 16,000 of them and in 1910 it was split into 16 runs with Mt Rosa's 5450 acres being one of them.
Some of the earlier vines were planted at Mt Rosa in the 1970s, but rabbits and sheep ate them all. Wool prices were crap and by 2000 we decided that a vineyard was the way forward and so began our new story in wine!
Philosophy
Our simple philosophy is to ensure the land is handed over to the next generation in its most pristine condition. Along with our winemaker, we have a hands-off approach, as much a possible, to allow our vines and ultimately, our wines, to truly reflect their environment.
While we have a natural, hand's off approach to the vineyard, it's all hands on deck for the Cellar Door! Our philosophy is that the experience of tasting the wine is equally as important as the wine itself so we endeavour to make you feel welcome as soon as you pull up.
for the next generation
Sustainability
We are proud to be SWNZ (Sustainable Wine Growing NZ) accredited and take our role as guardians of the land seriously. We have a vested interest in maintaining the quality of the land and the vineyard for future generations' enjoyment of the good drop of wine.
Our vineyard is one of the highest in Gibbston which can present great challenges as well happy surprises! It means that we don't need to use as much water as others due to gravity, the cooler temperatures in the evening also mean that disease is not as common. We use a small amount of pesticides and herbicides.