Located on the east coast with mountains to the west, Marlborough is New Zealand’s Premier Wine Region. It is one of New Zealand’s sunniest and driest areas. Marlborough's geography can be roughly divided into four sections. Two of these sections, in the south and the west, are mountainous. This is particularly true of the southern section, which rises to the peaks of the Kaikoura Ranges. These two mountainous regions are the final northern vestiges of the ranges that make up the Southern Alps, although that name is rarely applied to mountains this far north.

Between these two areas is the long straight valley of the Wairau River. This broadens to wide plains at its eastern end, in the centre of which stands the town of Blenheim. This region has fertile soil and temperate weather, and as such has become a centre of the New Zealand wine industry.

Marlborough's fourth geographic zone lies along its north coast. Here, the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds make for a convoluted and attractive coastline. The Marlborough Sounds is an environmental haven, with winding waterways, sheltered bays and native forest. The town of Picton is located at the southern end of one of the larger sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound. Adjacent to Picton is strategic Shakespeare Bay, historically renowned with East India Company’s antiquate designed legendary vessel Edwin Fox which was commissioned in 1853. Shakespeare Bay is also the deep water port facility in Picton Harbour. The Port of Picton includes the Port facilities in Picton Harbour and the Shakespeare Bay located at the head of the sheltered Queen Charlotte Sound on the north-eastern tip of the South Island of New Zealand.

Mt Rosa in Central Otago, is steeped in the agricultural history and culture of the South Island of New Zealand. Mt Rosa is located at the eastern end of Gibbston Valley near the Nevis Bluff, just 20km from the vibrant resort town of Queenstown, the premium tourist destination of New Zealand. The region around Mt Rosa is rich in history - a large amount of gold was taken from this area in the late 1800’s, and recently it was the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping.

The station was named after Mt Rosa (1316m), one of the highest points on the hills to the south in 1910 when it was subdivided from the larger Kawarau Station.

Early pioneers established Mt Rosa as a legendary merino sheep station (farm) and it is only recently that it has become one of the largest vineyards in this dynamic wine growing region. There are a few yarns going round the wine world about our place - the Gibbston Valley, deep in the spectacular Southern Alps of New Zealand.

They reckon it's one of the better spots to grow Pinot Noir grapes, so fifteen years ago we sent the last of the sheep off to greener paddocks, and planted some vines. Turns out the dry stony soil that made our pasture so poor grows pretty good grapes. Seemed like we were onto a good thing, so we planted more vines, trying a few different varieties. In two shakes of lambs tail we had one of the biggest vineyards in the region.

Size isn't everything, of course, but all manner of people seem to get quite excited after a mouthful of our wines. Michael Cooper even wrote “Possibly the best Pinot Gris to come out of Central Otago yet” about our 2003 vintage. We're not given to displays of emotion - except on Bledisloe Test days, of course - but deep down we're a wee bit pleased with the kerfuffle our wines have caused. And we'd be even better pleased if you and your mates enjoy them too.

Mt Rosa was the original ram paddock for Kawarua Station. Kawarua Station was 206,000 acres and ran 40,000 sheep, a snow in 1903 killed 16,000 of them. In 1910 it was split into 16 runs, Mt Rosa's 5450 acres being one of them.