Villa Maria Estates

Villa Maria Estate is one of New Zealand's wine companies.[1] Their vineyards are located throughout New Zealand, with production bases in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Auckland.[2][3][4]

For other uses, see Villa Maria.

Villa Maria Estates
LocationAuckland, New Zealand
Coordinates36.97966°S 174.76714°E / -36.97966; 174.76714
Wine regionNew Zealand
Founded1961
Key peopleSir George Fistonich KNZM
Known forNgakirikiri
VarietalsMerlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling
TastingOpen to the public
Websitewww.villamariawines.com

Sir George Fistonich KNZM founded the company in 1961, upon leasing a 5-hectare (12-acre) plot of land on Kirkbride Road in Mangere, Auckland from his parents. The company relocated to a larger site on Montgomerie Road in the same suburb. In 2021 the company was bought by Indevin.[5]

Brands

Villa Maria Estate has a portfolio of several brands. These include Villa Maria, Vidal, Esk Valley, Thornbury, Riverstone, Left Field, Kidnapper Cliffs, and Te Awa.[2]

In addition to the New Zealand domestic market, Villa Maria Estate also distributes throughout Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

Wines

Villa Maria has six tiers of wine: Ngakirikiri, Reserve, Single Vineyard, Platinum Selection, Cellar Selection and Private Bin.[6] Vidal covers three tiers: Legacy, Reserve and Estate. Esk Valley also covers three tiers: The Terraces, Winemaker's Reserve and Esk Valley Range. The Terraces is usually sold en primeur and is only produced during selected vintages. Te Awa produces two tiers: Te Awa and Leftfield. Thornbury, Kidnapper Cliffs and Riverstone operate on a single-tier basis.

Villa Maria produces wine styles that include[7] Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, 'Bordeaux' varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec), Pinot noir and Riesling.[8] Less common varietals produced are Gewürztraminer, Pinot gris, Viognier, Verdelho, Syrah, Grenache, Chenin blanc, Albariño and Arneis.[9]

Wineries
Villa Maria vineyard at Waitomokia, Auckland

The Auckland vineyard was originally located at Kirkbride Road in Māngere Bridge. In 2000, George Fistonich purchased Waitomokia / Mount Gabriel, a nearby quarried volcanic site in Māngere.[10] The vineyard and packaging facilities opened on the site in 2005.[10]

Awards

Villa Maria Estate was named the supreme winner at the New Zealand Sustainable Business Network Awards in November 2012.[11]

References
  1. Cooper, Michael (2019). "Regional Wine Profiles". Michael Cooper's New Zealand Wine Buying Guide. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  2. David Hayward The University of Auckland: The Largest NZ Wine Companies in Cat. 3 (over 2 million litres of production).
  3. Villa Maria Vineyards: "Villa Maria Estate: New Zealand's leading wine award winner". Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
  4. About Us: "About Villa Maria : An Icon in the New Zealand Wine Industry". Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  5. Bevin, Andrew (15 May 2023). "Villa Maria Estate faces looming closure". Newsroom. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. Cooper, M. Michael Cooper's Wine Buying Guide. 2018
  7. Based on plantings and production in New Zealand- New Zealand winegrowers website http://www.nzwine.com/wine-styles/
  8. Grape Varieties from Villa Maria Estate website – www.villamaria.co.nz
  9. "Villa Maria wines : Sample Quality White, Rose & Red Wines". www.villamaria.co.nz. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009.
  10. Thomson, Joelle (27 February 2005). "Winemakers go for growth". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  11. "Villa Maria's sustainability winning awards". 3 News NZ. 26 November 2012.
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