Villa Maria Estate was founded by George Fistonich, now Sir George, in the 1960’s and is still family run. They have extensive holdings in Auckland, Marlborough and Hawkes Bay. The 40 hectare site sits on an extinct volcano, the crater creating a natural amphitheatre. They hold summer concerts, past performers include Simply Red, Radiohead, Rona Keating, Simple Minds, Tom Jones. In March Aha and Rik Astley are booked, a great excuse to prolong my stay!

We were guided through their wines by winemaker David Roper in their aged cellar. Categories of wine start with Private Bin, then Cellar selection, Platinum (recently introduced) and their best wines are the Reserve selection.

Nice texture not in your face Sauvignon, David explained this was a warm year thus the added roundness to the fruit.

More subtle gooseberry, passion fruit, classic Marlborough, flagship seller (1 million cases)

Sl smokiness really smooth texture

More texture, passion fruit stone fruit herbaceous about 6 months lees ageing real  smoothness excellent wine ++

Quantity only 6000 to 10000 cases

 Pear drop, blend of fruit north and south Island, ripe pears guava

Nice texture too 5 g residual. A nice example of NZ Pinot Gris

Blend of both islands more fruit from North Hawkes Bay and Gisbourne

toast, smoke, some Malo oak from addition can be staves/chips/dust

17,000 cases

Simple red cherryfruit Pinot not much length or finish neutral barrels

More smoke earthiness savouriness oak

Lots of fruit black and red and plums and smokiness soft mellow tannins food friendly Merlot dominated

85% rule re labelling

Perfumed violets floral ripe black fruit concentrated black fruit

Really ripe and lovely texture

 

I was really impressed by Villa Maria’s quality and consistency and price range. The 2019’s have only recently been bottled but were drinking beautifully.

We had a lovely lunch in their restaurant outside, overlooking the vines and tried a few more wines, including their excellent Albarino which had a distinctive saltiness. Then a walk in the Albarino vines with David Roper who had managed to put up with our company for 3 hours.