Villa Maria
Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, Villa Maria remains 100% family owned and has claimed the title of ‘New Zealand’s Most Awarded Winery’
About the winery
Villa Maria has two modern wineries. The stunning state-of-the-art Auckland winery and vineyard park is built in the collapsed crater of an extinct volcano and was opened in 2005. A dedicated visitor centre is open to the public 7 days a week offering tastings and tours of the winery. The Marlborough winery is set in beautiful scenery just outside the small town of Blenheim. Both wineries have been designed to a 50-year expansion plan and have won awards for their architecture. At Villa Maria, winemaking is very much a team effort.
Learn more about Villa Maria and their facilities at:
Location
Auckland & Marlborough
History & Geography
It is not easy to tell your Dad that you are quitting a career in carpentry to try your hand at making wine. But in 1961, at the age of 21, that’s exactly what Sir George Fistonich did. 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.
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