RUSTIC VINESTOURS

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Back on Home Soil: Tim Cowley Brings Rustic Vines to New Zealand

Our founder Tim Cowley returns to his native New Zealand to represent Rustic Vines at the Great Wine Capitals gathering and Best Of Wine Tourism celebrations.

Rustic Vines · 21 October 2026

A little of Bordeaux, back on Kiwi soil.

From Bordeaux to New Zealand, Tim is back on home soil.

Our founder, Tim Cowley, is representing Rustic Vines in New Zealand as part of the Great Wine Capitals gathering and Best Of Wine Tourism celebrations. For Tim, the trip is also a homecoming: a chance to return to the country where his story began, with the company he went on to build in Bordeaux.

A Kiwi story with Bordeaux roots

Originally from New Zealand, Tim first came to Europe as a professional rugby player. After retiring from the sport, he followed his passion for wine, travel and French culture to Bordeaux.

Rustic Vines began with a borrowed car and a tour for a few Kiwi friends. Since then, the company has grown around a simple idea: sharing Bordeaux through its wines, landscapes and, above all, the people who bring them to life.

That personal approach still shapes our days in Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and beyond. Whether guests join us by bike, by van or for a private tour, we want them to feel welcome and leave with more than a list of wines they have tasted.

Sharing Bordeaux with the world

The Great Wine Capitals gathering brings together people working in wine tourism from across the world. This year, Hawke’s Bay provides the setting for those conversations, giving Tim the opportunity to meet fellow professionals while representing the Bordeaux region he now calls home.

Following Rustic Vines’ 2026 Regional Best Of Wine Tourism award for Wine Tourism Services, it is a pleasure to take part in that international exchange and celebrate the people behind memorable wine experiences.

The right ambassador for the journey

Who better to represent Rustic Vines in New Zealand than the Kiwi who started it all?

Tim brings a connection to both countries: his New Zealand roots and his years spent welcoming travellers to Bordeaux. We are proud to see him bringing a little of Bordeaux back home, sharing our story and hearing how others introduce visitors to their own wine regions.

Enjoy being back home, Tim. We look forward to the stories you will bring back.

Discover our private wine tours in Bordeaux →

RUSTIC VINES TOURS · Bordeaux & Saint-Émilion