1858

John Rose arrives from England as a new migrant to New Zealand in 1858 and sets up his farm in Rapaura, Spring creek.

1866

John Rose marries Ellen Ford at the home of Issac Gifford, Giffords Rd.

1870

John Rose buys Lot 17, Sec 48 on East Side of Grove Road for 200 Pounds. By 1905 he owned 153ha – named it Kegworth after the farm in UK where he was born and raised.

1912

John Rose buys 72ha in Rapaura (The Poplars) – he paid 100 pounds per acre – a reasonable price in those days. In 1918 John died, leaving Doug (Phils father) aged 14 to leave school and stay at home to run the farm. Ultimately the farm was able to carry on producing fine wheat, pea & barley crops.

1960's - 1970's

Phil & Chris Rose marry in London 1972 and return to NZ to work in Rose Combines farming business with his three brothers.

Phil and Chris start a young family, Pip being born in 1973, followed by Anna, Hamish, Sam and Caroline.

1973

Phil & Chris Rose develop Kesteven Farm. Predominantly fodder crop Lucerne. The green leaf lucerne was harvested and fine chopped – taken to the Lucerne Meal Factory in Old Renwick Rd, where it was dehydrated, pelletised and exported to Japan for stock feed for Kobe beef.

1970's

Sauvignon Blanc is found ...

A sauvignon blanc clone sourced from the government’s Te Kauwahata Viticultural Research Station Ruakura looked promising.

A lab sample made in the 1970s had exciting aromas and flavours, but the vines were seriously infected with leaf roll virus.

Ross Spence then tracked down a trial plant on Corbans’ Kumeu vineyard, days before the vineyard was ripped out. A couple of virus-free sauvignon plants produced enough cuttings to graft onto rootstock.

1975

Phil and Chris Rose decide to change their farm from growing lucerne to growing grapes due to the oil shock in the 1970’s but they were stymied by Marlborough Country Council regulations who’s District Scheme Plan prohibited any grape growing north of Old Renwick Road.

When Phil & Chris applied to the council for permission to plant 60 acres in three lots of 20 acres, their submission attracted 56 objections with few supporters. The Council declined, so an immediate appeal was launched.

The objections ranged from moral issues to the local forestry interests losing right to use 245T sprays for desiccation prior to planting, local farmers, noise and spray over an 18 month process.

1978

The Roses finally win their long and protracted legal battle as the Marlborough County Council overturn the decision of their own planning committee and grape growing was made a ‘predominant use’ everywhere south of the Wairau River.

The Rose Family plants 20 acres of Muller Thurgau vines for Montana Wines, followed by 20 acres of Palamino and in third year another 20 acres of Muller Thurgau. Everything was planted at 3m wide rows and 1.6m between vines.

The original vineyard is now called Home Block.

1985

In 1985 troubles were brewing for the New Zealand wine industry overall.

Marlborough wasn’t immune to those troubles and when it was decided that a glut of wine was threatening everyone, the Government agreed to fund a vine pull.

The Roses re-planted with varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Another significant event in the development of Marlborough’s wine industry was the discovery of Phylloxera in the region. This in turn means more replanting had to occur.

Many believe without these two major events, Marlborough could still be growing bulk varieties like Muller Thurgau and Chenin Blanc.

1991

Wairau River Wines is formed with the establishment of the Vintech facility at the top end of Rapaura Road. It is from here that they produce their first vintage of 2,000  cases of Sauvignon Blanc and win the prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards Sauvignon Blanc trophy.

Almost all of the 1991 vintage is exported to the UK through the first Wairau River Exporter, Reid Wines.

1992

The iconic mudbrick building is built on Rapaura Road and becomes the home of the Wairau River Restaurant and Cellar door, now known as Number 11 at Wairau River.

Phil & Chris Rose buy 40 hectares of land on Rapaura Road and plant 1km Plane Tree lined driveway.

This would become the site of the winery.

1993

After starting in 1985 the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival is a must do event every February. Phil & Chris have always supported the event.

1995

Vintech was where the first vintage of our wine was made in 1991.

Phil & Chris founded a contract winery called Rapaura Vintners with Matua, Nautilus and Foxes Island on corner of Rapaura Road and SH6.

1997

Wairau River takes its wines to USA forming a strategic partnership with the Terlato family.

2002

After selling out their share of Rapaura Vintners, the Roses build a winery on Rapaura Road vineyard and consists of a state-of-the-art winery and bottling shed, plus the current Rose Family Estate offices.

2000's

The focus was on developing markets for wines around the world.

The next generation of Rose family joined the winery business – Pip, Hamish, and Sam.

Growing demand for land results in purchases of Burnside (2005), Longbend (2006) Spring Creek & Angler (2007).

2008

The Rapaura Road winery extension is completed.

Sam Rose is appointed Winemaker.

2010's

The ongoing growth of the wine industry with Sauvignon Blanc plantings now 75% of Marlborough.

Further strategic land purchases are made to strengthen supply

• 2012 Stonewall
• 2015 Crusher
• 2017 Kaituna

2011

Phil Rose wins the coveted Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award.

We undertake a Cellar Door & Restaurant expansion.

2016

Earthquake hits Seddon and surrounding area.

2019

Hillocks Rd Dairy Farm is purchased and redeveloped into a vineyard in 2020.

2020

Rose Family Estate purchases Cravens Rd – on land previously farmed by earlier generations of the extended Rose Family.

2020-2021

Covid was a disruptive period for growing grapes and making wine. However the resilience and determination of everyone involved meant our customers both domestically and internationally didn’t suffer any out of stock issues.

2023

Our Wairau River wine is awarded a trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc at the Marlborough Wine Show.

Marlborough celebrates 50 years of grape growing.

2024

Nick Entwistle takes over as Chief Winemaker.

Rose Family Estate is product to be a finalist in the Marlborough Environment Awards.

Today

Rose Family Estate is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded wine producers, exporting to customers all over the world. The Roses have grown from the initial Homeblock vineyard to 13 vineyards throughout the Wairau Valley.