Still 100% New Zealand and family owned, Villa Maria Estate has gone from strength to strength over the last 50 years and is now distributed worldwide. Dedication to quality remains unwavering and as a result, Villa Maria Estate has claimed the title of New Zealand’s Most Awarded Winery for over forty consecutive years. In 2020 Villa Maria became part of Indevin an established wine business in New Zealand.

Located on the central valley floor of the Wairau Valley, the Fletcher Vineyard is characterised by free draining alluvial soils. Pruned to balance the site naturally, Riesling grapes are first encouraged to ripen, then noble botrytis is encouraged through autumnal dews and crisp cool weather. With careful late season management, the fruit is harvested after the botrytis has drawn much of the berries' moisture, concentrating sugars, acid and flavour.

Winemaking: 100% handpicked and inoculated with neutral yeast strain in stainless steel. Matured on the lees for 8 months.

Weather in 2021: Marlborough had a slightly early budburst, followed by some very cold nights with light frosts through September. This caused significant crop reduction in localised areas. The third year in a row of drought conditions triggered a reduction in potential berry size in the looser bunches that resulted from flowering. Fortunately, there was enough rain in the headwaters to provide just enough water for those with irrigation. These dry conditions persisted and, combined with high wind, kept disease levels low. The very small yields meant a particularly early start to the 2021 harvest for everyone. The good news is that all varieties show great promise in terms of quality in such volumes as there are, with concentration in the Pinot Noir, great balance in the Chardonnay, and intensity and balance in the Sauvignon Blanc.

Technical Information:
Grape: 100% Riesling
Region: Marlborough
Sub Region: Central Wairau Valley and Waihopai Valley
Vineyard: Fletcher
Style: Dessert wine
Bottling date: December 2021
Closure: Screwcap
Total Acidity: 9.06 g/l
Residual Sugar: 178.7 g/l
Alcohol: 10.50 %
pH: 3.50
Drink: Now to 2034

Tasting Note: Lots of dried fruits like citrus peel, toffee, apricot, honeysuckle and ginger spice on the nose. Fresh acidity and intense flavours create a deceptively lively and fresh palate with sweetness perfect for deserts. Flavours are layered with spice, florals, orange marmalade and zippy acid backbone. Delicious as an aperitif or with deserts based around fresh fruits and chocolate.

In 1961, at the age of 21, Sir George Fistonich told his Dad he was quitting his career in carpentry to try his hand at making wine. He leased five acres of land from his father, planted one acre with grapes and started making wine under the name ‘Villa Maria’. Since those first cuttings took hold in the soil out in Mangere, near Auckland, Sir George has been determined to be at the cutting edge of quality winegrowing.

Sir George Fistonich, Founder and Owner “Uppermost in my mind as we grow is that we should maintain the principles with which we started over 50 years ago: the pursuit of quality, innovation and passion for a particular style that is New Zealand. Above all, we want to make wines that everyone can enjoy, everywhere.”

Villa Maria Estate has gone from strength to strength over the last 50 years and is now distributed worldwide. Dedication to quality remains unwavering and as a result, Villa Maria Estate has claimed the title of New Zealand’s Most Awarded Winery for over forty consecutive years. In 2020 Villa Maria became part of Indevin an established wine business in New Zealand.

Senior Winemaker: Richard Painter
Winery Location: Hawkes Bay | New Zealand
Wine Region: Hawkes Bay
Annual Production (cases): 500,000