Malcolm Rees-Francis | Winemaker

 

Malcolm's  journey began far from the vineyard rows—in the rural heart of Waimate, a South Island town known more for sheep and cattle than Pinot Noir.

At eighteen, determined to take a different path, Malcolm left rural life behind to study microbiology at Otago University. But it wasn’t long before science gave way to a newfound passion: winemaking.

After university, Malcolm immersed himself in the New Zealand wine industry, working cellar roles in Marlborough and Central Otago. His big break came in 2001 when he joined Felton Road as Assistant Winemaker to Blair Walter. Four years later, having further broadened his Pinot Noir horizons with multiple vintages in Oregon, USA, Malcolm took up the reins at Rockburn, where over the next two decades he would help shape the winery’s signature style—elegant, expressive, and benchmark Central Otago.

Rockburn has proven to be one of New Zealand’s most consistently awarded Pinot Noir producers, earning numerous trophies, gold medals, and five-star ratings for their wines globally. It’s a true testament to Malcolm’s deep understanding of the vines, soil, climate, oak, and the winemaking process—skills perhaps only a microbiologist-turned winemaker could truly master.