EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
ROCKFERRY AND OUR STORY
The natural beauty of the original Rock Ferry site has inspired us to create wine & food that respects nature and is true to its origins.
From Marlborough’s early settlers to the famous winegrowing region of today there is a rich story Rock Ferry has to tell.
Steeped in experience, our experts are passionate about the wine, food and hospitality that reflects the real values of our family business.
Rock Ferry
—the wine company took the name from a landmark site on Marlborough’s Wairau River. Originally the place where early settlers crossed the Wairau River, Rock Ferry is now self-contained cottage accommodation.
But the natural beauty of this landmark site remains and inspired Tom Hutchison & Fiona Harvey, in 2005, to name their emerging wine label after this remarkable place.
Tom Hutchison arrived in Marlborough in the early 1990’s where he met Fiona Harvey, a local originally from Pelorus Sound and they began growing grapes under contract for local premium wine producers.
Tom and Fiona purchased Rock Ferry Cottage in the early 2000’s and set it up as self-contained accommodation. When the time came to create their own wine label in 2005, Tom & Fiona used the Rock Ferry name as inspiration for their natural wine-growing approach.
They embarked on converting their vineyards to an organic farming regime in 2006. Right from the first wines produced, a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and a Blanc de Blancs from the 2005 vintage.
Tom & Fiona employed the exceptional talents of winemaker Allan McWilliams where Allan continues to this day.
Today Rock Ferry makes fifteen wine styles sourced from three vineyards & from two wine growing regions! The wine styles range from classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to silky smooth Central Otago Pinot Noir, from an elegant Marlborough Blanc de Blancs to a mineral Pinot Blanc from Marlborough’s Rapaura sub region to a Tempranillo from Trig Hill Vineyard in Central Otago.
The wines are all sourced from company owned vineyards in Marlborough and Central Otago which are certified organic. To maintain complete control over quality Rock Ferry developed their own winery in 2009 where Allan and his team continue to ply their craft.
To showcase this extensive range, the Rock Ferry Cellar Door & Café was opened in 2011, where Fiona, a chef by trade set up the seasonally inspired café restaurant to produce the perfect match for Rock Ferry’s organic wines. The Rock Ferry Restaurant sadly closed in 2020, but the space is now leased by an outside party the Winekitchen.
In early 2020 we moved to our brand new Cellar Door on The Corners Vineyard. This bigger space allows us to accommodate larger groups and boasts a large deck to soak up the Marlborough sun. We are open 7 days a week for wine tasting and sharing platters.