It's Still About Family. Always Has Been. Always Will Be
At Mt Rosa, family is at the heart of everything we do.
In 2026, we became the proud custodians of Mt Rosa, beginning an exciting new chapter while continuing the legacy of one of Gibbston's original vineyards. We feel incredibly privileged to care for this special place and to share it with visitors from around the world.
Our family's roots in horticulture stretch back to 1880, when generations of the Timmermans family grew roses in the Netherlands. In the 1950s, the family moved to the UK and went on to establish an award-winning garden centre, where a love of growing, caring for the land and welcoming people became a way of life.
After moving from the UK to New Zealand to build a new life, we fell in love with Gibbston, its spectacular landscape and its world-class Pinot Noir. When the opportunity arose to become the custodians of Mt Rosa, it felt like everything had come full circle.
Today, we're proud to be a family-run winery where genuine hospitality comes first. Whether you're enjoying a guided tasting, relaxing over a platter, discovering our beautifully aged Pinot Noir, or joining us for a Friday evening dinner, we want every visit to feel warm, personal and memorable.
We're honoured to continue the story of Mt Rosa, respecting everything that has come before while creating a legacy of our own.
From our family to yours, welcome to Mt Rosa.
We're Greg and Sophie, proud parents to Monty and Cosima, and the family behind Mt Rosa.
Family has always been at the heart of everything we do. We love spending time together, whether that's skiing, getting outdoors, travelling or simply enjoying everything Central Otago has to offer.
Owning Mt Rosa has become a true family adventure, and while Greg and Sophie might be the faces you'll see most often, our whole family is incredibly proud to call this special place home.
We never imagined that one day we'd own a family winery in Central Otago. Moving to New Zealand was a leap of faith, but one that completely changed our lives. We fell in love with Gibbston, its incredible scenery, welcoming community and world-class wines, and when the opportunity came to become the custodians of Mt Rosa, we knew we'd found somewhere truly special. Today, we're incredibly grateful to call Mt Rosa home and feel privileged to share this remarkable place with visitors from around the world.
Sophie has always loved being around people and has appeared in a number of stage productions over the years. She even spent time performing stand-up comedy in the UK, so don't be surprised if she keeps everyone smiling in the tasting room. Greg is happiest outdoors and can often be found out on the trails before sunrise training for his next challenge. Together, we love skiing, exploring everything Central Otago has to offer and spending as much time as possible with our family.
We hope that when you visit Mt Rosa, you leave with wonderful memories, a favourite wine and the feeling that you'll always be welcome back. It's a privilege to share our wines, our story and this very special place with you.
If there's one person who knows Mt Rosa inside and out, it's Gary Crabb.
Gary has been working in the Gibbston Valley for more than 30 years and has played an important role in shaping the region's wine industry. He was involved in planting some of the very first vines at Mt Rosa and has watched the vineyard grow and mature into what it is today.
Long before we became the custodians of Mt Rosa, I had the privilege of working alongside Gary in local vineyards. His knowledge, experience and friendship have been invaluable, and without his guidance and support, it's fair to say Sophie and I may never have found ourselves at Mt Rosa.
Today, Gary continues to oversee our vineyard with the same care, passion and attention to detail that he's brought to the valley for decades. His understanding of Mt Rosa is second to none, and every vintage benefits from his experience.
Away from the vineyard, Gary is usually accompanied by his three beautiful Wirehaired Griffons Rita, Boscoe and Monica who are almost as well known around the valley as he is. They're very much part of the Mt Rosa family and are always happy to make new friends.
We're incredibly grateful to have Gary not only as our viticulturist, but as a great friend and someone who shares our passion for this very special place.
A great winery is about more than great wine—it's about the people who make every visit memorable.
At Mt Rosa, we're incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful team who share our passion for great wine and genuine hospitality. As a family-run winery, Sophie and I couldn't do it without them. Their warmth, enthusiasm and dedication help create the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere we're proud to offer every guest.
Whether you're joining us for a wine tasting, enjoying one of our platters, attending an event or simply soaking up the views, our team will make you feel right at home. They genuinely love what they do and take pride in ensuring every visit is enjoyable, personal and memorable.
We're incredibly proud of our team and hope you'll leave Mt Rosa with wonderful memories, great wine and a reason to visit us again.
Dean has been crafting Mt Rosa wines since the very beginning and continues to lead our winemaking today. His philosophy is simple: let the vineyard do the talking. By taking a thoughtful, hands-off approach in the winery, Dean allows each vintage to reflect the unique character of Mt Rosa's schist soils and Gibbston's cool-climate conditions.
Now that many of our vines are approaching 30 years of age, Dean believes they're producing wines with even greater depth, balance and complexity, a true reflection of a vineyard coming into its own.
Dean holds a postgraduate degree in Viticulture and Wine Science and has gained winemaking experience in some of the world's most renowned wine regions, including Champagne, Burgundy, Alsace, Austria, Italy and South Africa. We're incredibly fortunate to have his knowledge, passion and experience continuing to shape every bottle of Mt Rosa wine.