Co-founder & Viticulturist

With degrees in Biochemistry and Genetics, Stuart’s love for the great outdoors drove him towards viticulture, returning to study at Lincoln University in 2005.

Upon graduating he moved to Marlborough, working as a viticulturist for Oyster Bay and later Villa Maria, gaining extensive knowledge of the region. In 2010 Stuart was awarded both New Zealand Young Viticulturist and Young Horticulturist of the Year, affording him the opportunity to travel to many of the world’s great wine regions to further his knowledge.

Today Stuart juggles his work as an independent consultant to a number of New Zealand’s top wine companies alongside his responsibilities as Co-founder and Director of Viticulture at Alpine Rift.

Co-founder & Winemaker

Richard’s passion for the art of winemaking started at an early age, with a school holiday vintage experience at Ata Rangi, one of the world’s great pinot noir producers.

Sparking a career that has spanned nearly 20 years and has taken him around the world both making and selling wine, his most recent appointment was a seven year stint as winemaker for Greywacke in Marlborough, working alongside sauvignon blanc pioneer, Kevin Judd.

Today he leads the winemaking program and is General Manager for Alpine Rift, a company he co-founded with good friends Stuart Dudley and David Nash.

Co-founder & Marketing

After a long and successful career in advertising David experienced a vinous epiphany while living and working in London.

Returning to New Zealand he devoted his working life to wine, re-connecting with high school friend Richard during the filming of his feature length documentary, ‘A Seat at the Table’, a film that charts the meteoric rise of New Zealand Wine on the world stage.

A charismatic story teller and never short of an idea, David works with some of the world’s greatest wine brands and is a Co-founder of and the creative force behind the brand, Alpine Rift.