
Our People
“The key to families working together is making sure everyone has their own areas of responsibility, that they don’t overlap and that each respects the roles of the others in the business.” - Phil Rose

Our ever-growing Rose family continues to drive our focus on quality and craft in the often challenging grape growing and winemaking sector.
We are humbled by the success we've achieved over the past (almost) 50 years and we're thrilled to introduce you to some of team who have helped to achieve these milestones.

FOUNDERS
Phil & Chris Rose
Phil and Chris were originally growing lucerne for export to Japan. When the 1970's oil shock hit, making the harvesting and drying of lucerne uneconomic, the Roses looked to find an alternative use for their land.
In 1978 they decided to plant grapes. After contract growing grapes for some years, they decided to produce their own wine in 1991 under the Wairau River label.
And as they say, the rest is history!

CEO
Lindsay Parkinson
Parky (as he's known) is married to Pip, the eldest of the five Rose children. After studying accounting and finance and honing his IT skills in London and Sydney he joined the company in 2002.
Now CEO he plays a major role in driving the family business forward, closely working with all stakeholders and ensuring our reputation for excellence is maintained.
When he is not in the office he can most likely be found on a golf course or travelling the world in search of great food and wine.

Viticulturist
Hamish Rose
A close affinity to the land and a love of farming meant Hamish was always destined to manage the family's land. As viticulturist he and his results-driven team are laser focused on ensuring the vineyards are healthy and consistently producing exceptional fruit.
After more than 20 years as Viticulturalist and a lifetime spent in these vines, he is still always exploring ways we can improve, whether that's using new technology or trialling new pruning practices. Hamish uses the benefit of experience coupled with a drive to push forward to stay true to our pioneering roots.
Outside of vines and vineyards he is a keen hunter and fisherman and happiest when up a hill or in the water.

Winemaker
Sam Rose
After studying winemaking at Lincoln in New Zealand and time spent learning the trade in the USA and Europe, Sam has worked the last 20+ years as part of our winemaking team. Leading the significant growth in production at the winery on Rapaura Road over the last few years. Sauvignon Blanc represents the family's success in this industry and Sam has been the master of this blend for decades now. In his words, "It is very satisfying to translate the zesty, pure, fresh, vibrant qualities of Marlborough into our wines, it is what makes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc unique."
When your vineyard is called The Angler you know where his passion lies – chasing big game fish off the coast of New Zealand with his brother and mates. Sam also loves to cook - food and wine being another true passion. The family is always very excited when a dinner invitation comes their way.

Chief Winemaker
Nick Entwistle
Nick joined the RFE team in 2010. He also studied at Lincoln University, initially leaning more into a pharmaceutical area than wine making. Today, Nick is Director of Winemaking has an incredible affinity for making Pinot Noir. His technical intuition means he can solve many problems, and he loves the challenge of finding new and innovative ways to make wine. Nick leads a dedicated team within the winery and is particularly proud of the improvements we have made within the sustainability areas over recent years.
Nick lives on a vineyard property with wife Jacqui, daughter Isla and George his faithful canine friend.

Human Resources Manager
Kristy Andrews
Whilst primarily responsible for the people within the organisation, Kristy is also part of the Marketing team and plays a key governance role on the board of directors. With a to-do list longer than anyone here Kristy still finds time to spend time in the hills or on the sea with partner Hamish Rose - as long as there's a gin & tonic at the end of the day.

Hospitality Manager
Pip Rose
Childhood summer holidays were spent packing various fruit (apples, cherries and stonefruit) from the family's orchards and quick trip into the Sounds for some boating and fishing. As a mother of four, Pip juggled motherhood with managing the Wairau River restaurant and cellar door for over 20 years taking it to iconic status within the region as the ‘go-to’ winery lunch spot.
Walking the family dog Coco along the banks of the Wairau River is a favoured daily activity together with the ongoing "management" of her four now-grown-up children as they progress through College and University.

Export Director
Dave Kenny
Having cut his teeth in the wine industry in South Africa from 1995, Dave returned to his native country, New Zealand, towards the end of 1999. Throughout the next decade he was fortunate enough to have held sales and marketing positions with some prominent Marlborough wineries before joining Rose Family estate in 2009. He really enjoys connecting with trade and consumers to show them how special the wines of Rose Family Estate and Marlborough are. With long standing relationships around the world, he travels extensively and returns to NZ with many a great story about his latest experiences in various cuisines.
When not at the winery or on an aeroplane you would most likely find him on the golf course. As a long standing member of the Dog Stick Golf Club, he and his mates travel the country each year seeking out the best courses.

VP International Sales
Matt Parker
Born in Wānaka, with a formidable background in the culinary and hospitality sectors, Matthew spearheads the company's expansion and business strategies in North America. His culinary journey began with training as a chef, which led him to prestigious roles in five-star hotels and restaurants across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and France.
He travels extensively throughout North America making sure our wines are served and displayed in all the right locations and the various sales teams know he has their best interests at heart always working closely to grow our sales. Now based permanently in Chicago with his wife, Katharine, and their two sons, Preston and Larson, he is a committed family man spending hours on the sidelines watching basketball, baseball, and football