Phil and Chris Rose were growing lucerne for export to Japan on their farm next to the Wairau River in Marlborough.
When, in the mid 70’s, global factors combined to cause the oil price to soar from US$2 to US$11 a barrel, lucerne farming became uneconomic and the Rose’s, with five children to feed, had to look for an alternate crop. 

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They decided to plant grapes. However, with grape growing an unpermitted activity on the north side of the Wairau Valley, the Rose’s had to file an application for Change of Land Use. It was strenuously objected to by many nearby farmers and landowners. 56 objections were filed, and it took two years, to methodically and logically work through them. 

 

All were eventually over-ruled, and in 1978 the Rose’s became the first to grow grapes in what is now known as the Golden Mile of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. 

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The terroir and micro-climate around the Home Block – where Phil and Chris lived and worked and planted their first vines – is ideal for wine growing, thanks to the unique stony soil and mineral make-up of the land - the ancient bed of the Wairau River. It is hard, tough land and the grapes love it. 

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It was no easy feat, raising their children whilst planting their vineyards by hand. In those days a caravan doubled as a ‘smoko’ room and daycare for the children. The great vine pullout of 1986 - a government initiative to reshape the varietals planted to become more commercially relevant – was another of the obstacles Chris and Phil had to overcome. But, there have been wins too, and the rocketing popularity of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in Europe spurred the Roses to start their own wine brand. 

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In 1991 the first vintage of their Wairau River label, won the Champion Sauvignon Blanc trophy. 

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From the first, hard-fought vineyard the Rose family have created Rose Family Estate. A Cellar Door was built in 1992, then a winery in 2001 and a bottling line in 2003.
 
With their children and their partners at the helm of a business firmly grounded in their family values, Rose Family Estate has come full circle in 2023, winning the trophy for the Champion Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.