Founder & Managing Director

My daughter Amy and my son-in-law Matt are the sixth generation of my family in Marlborough. My mother grew up here, and when I was a child I spent countless summers on my grandparent’s farm in the Wairau Valley. They were happy times. As a boy I thought Marlborough was paradise. I still do. Now, my grandchildren visit me here, just like I visited my grandparents. In starting Mount Riley in 1992 I feel as if I’ve come full circle.

General Manager

I worked as a lawyer in London for a number of years. But the New Zealand lifestyle and allure of being a part of creating and selling a great family of wines was irresistible. I came home to work with my Dad and have never looked back. Not long after arriving home I met Matt, my future husband. As well as working together at Mount Riley, Matt & I have 4 children Sam, Max, Finn & Poppy. I’ve come home but take pride in taking Mount Riley wines out across the world and sharing a taste of a special place – Marlborough New Zealand.

Chief Winemaker

I grew up on a farm in the North Island’s King Country surrounded by a pretty down- to-earth bunch of people. Winemaking attracted me because it’s like farming, with a strong connection to the land. As a winemaker I get to see it all the way through from growing the best grapes to making great wine and then selling it. I moved to Marlborough in 2007 to be with Amy. I feel really lucky to be living here – working alongside family and supported by an awesome crew, in one of the most picturesque parts of the world with great mountain biking and fishing on our back door.

Vineyard Manager

I was born, grew up and trained in vineyard management here in Marlborough. I know each of Mount Riley’s vineyards pretty well but each season is different which keeps me on my toes and makes my job interesting. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my 2 kids, fishing and looking after stock on the small farm where I live.

Importer

We are proud to represent Mount Riley and work with John, Amy & Matt throughout Scandinavia, the Baltic and Germany. Our company Amka is based in Randers Denmark. It was established in 1978 by my wife Anna Marie and is still family owned and operated, with my son Frank joining the business in 1992. Outside of Amka, Anna Marie & I also enjoy producing Port in our Quinta in Portugal and spending time with Frank, his wife Cecilia and our Grandchildren Max and Vilhelm.

Growers

We work closely with a selected group of local growers. We have both independent growers and also buy fruit from vineyards owned personally by Managing Director John and wife Lyn. Growers are chosen not only for their ability to produce great fruit, but also because we believe their vineyard sites add something special to our wines. Blending from multiple vineyard sites gives us the opportunity to create wines of greater complexity making them more interesting for you to drink.

Photographer

The late Marti Friedlander photographed the early days of the New Zealand wine industry when the Dalmation people planted the first vines in Auckland.

These photographs and a number of new ones by Joseph Kelly hang in our cellar door and represent what winemaking means to us – hard graft, patience and reward. Thanks to Marti and Joe for the lovely gift.