Wine Industry Acknowledges Stalwart with Lifetime Award

Marlborough Wine Industry Acknowledges Stalwart with Lifetime Achievement Award

Phil Rose of Wairau River Wines was awarded the Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala event as part of the regions most prestigious wine event, The Marlborough Wine Weekend.

The award, only the third ever presented, acknowledged the endeavours of Mr Rose, over the past 32 years.

He is credited with singlehandedly changing the face of the Marlborough wine industry by fighting for the right to grow grapes on his Gifford's Road property back in the late 1970s. When his application for permission to turn his lucerne farm to a vineyard was declined by the then Marlborough County Council, Mr Rose appealed to an independent tribunal.

While Montana had already begun planting grapes at Brancott Vineyard, regulations were in force that prohibited any grape growing north of Old Renwick Road, an area known as Rapaura. The fear was grape growing would prohibit forestry and farming practices of the day.

Wine Marlborough Chair, Dominic Pecchenino said when presenting the award that it would be a very different industry today without the efforts of Mr Rose.

"The independent tribunal gave a unanimous decision that allowed grape growing to take place, and as a result it opened up an area that is now synonymous with great wines. This special area, often referred to as the Golden Mile, is one of the most famous in Marlborough. Wines from this small stretch of land are renowned the world over."

Mr Rose went on to become a contract grower for Montana and later Penfolds (NZ). In 1991 he and wife Chris established their own label, Wairau River Wines, and in 1992 they opened their Cellar Door. A state of the art winery was built in 2002 and is capable of handling 3000 tonnes of fruit.

Wairau River Wines are now exported throughout the world.

Past recipients of the Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award are; Gerry Gregg from Brancott Estate and Ross Lawson from Lawson's Dry Hills.

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