A rosé revolution
In a quiet corner of North Canterbury, amidst limestone soils and ancient dry-grown vines, a quiet revolution is brewing – or rather fermenting.
Dancing Water Winery, perched “on top of the world,” is emerging from under the radar to make waves in the global rosé conversation.
This is no ordinary story of boutique wine innovation. Dancing Water is home to some of New Zealand’s oldest living, ungrafted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines. They were vines that were neglected, overgrown, and largely forgotten until a revitalisation began seven years ago under the stewardship of owner and vigneron Kim Schofield. Rather than dismissing the vineyard’s quirks, Schofield embraced them. With the guidance of viticulturist Dr David Jordan and winemaking collaborators such as Matt Connell and Dom Maxwell, she set out to coax out something extraordinary from what might have been dismissed as an unruly site.
Part of that “something extraordinary” was rosé. Schofield, inspired by her friends’ delight in French-style rosés, embarked on an audacious plan: to make rosés that could compete on the world stage. What started as small batches for friends has grown into a seven-wine rosé stable, each crafted with care, personality, and site expression. Her ambition paid off spectacularly in 2025, when Dancing Water submitted three distinct rosés to the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Challenge (IWSC). The results stunned even the makers: Gold for Blanc de Noir 2024, Silver for Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2024, and Bronze for Georgie Rosé Diamante 2024.
To appreciate that achievement in full, it’s important to understand the gravity of the IWSC. With more than 12,000 entries from over 90 countries, fewer than three per cent of submissions earn gold, while only 22 per cent receive silver and 50 per cent bronze. Dancing Water’s three medals mark a national first: no other New Zealand producer has ever earned three rosé awards in one year. The Rosé Producer Trophy – on which Dancing Water was shortlisted – remains to be decided in London come 12 November 2025.
Adding to the prestige, at the forthcoming London awards ceremony, their Blanc De Noir rosé will be the only rosé served that night. A symbolic nod to their stature within the industry.
What makes Dancing Water’s rosé fascinating is that it is not a gimmick or a “rosé side project”. From vine to bottle, the project is woven into the vineyard’s restoration and artistic vision. The labels themselves emerge from collaborations with local artist Chloe Summerhayes, and Auckland-based Hye Rim Lee and Michelle Reid. Artist Wayne Youle has worked on installations evoking the Dancing Water Story, and Kim has future plans to open the winery shed as a gallery space also hosting guest artists.
They also carefully select where the wine is sold, physical locations are limited to Ballantynes and high-end wine shops in the North Island. The main driver of sales is their website.
“Our customers are mostly private buyers who love the efficiency of our online shop, specialist gifts, and regular deliveries with the wine club all online,” says Kim.
In an era where many wineries chase scale or trend, Dancing Water has chosen to follow place, legacy and conviction. Their rosés are light, textural, and spirited. If this year’s medal haul is any indicator, the world is now watching.