Villa Maria

Villa Maria Estate was born in 1961 when Sir George Fistonich leased land from his father, making his first wine from a plot of less than half a hectare in 1962. The vineyard grew, and in the 1970s, Villa Maria purchased its first Marlborough plots. Striving for quality, it was the first New Zealand winery in the 1980s to reward growers for quality over quantity. Villa Maria helped establish sustainable viticulture in the country starting in 1995, and in 2001, it was the first major producer to switch to screw caps. Villa Maria’s Marlborough winery opened in 2000, followed by a new Auckland winery in 2005. The Hawkes Bay winery, opened in 2018, represents the absolute pinnacle of the industry. In 2015, Drinks International named Villa Maria New Zealand’s most admired wine brand. Villa Maria’s extensive range has won numerous awards, stylishly representing New Zealand’s diverse viticulture down to the characteristics of individual terroirs. Villa Maria wines are not the cheapest, but they offer excellent value for money.