Villa Maria’s reputation as New Zealand’s most awarded and trusted winery was upheld yet again this year at the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards last night, winning three trophies and 12 gold medals across a spectrum of varietals – coming away with an impressive 20 percent of the total gold medal count.
“These are wonderful achievements, especially for our Cellar Selection Pinot Gris which punches well above its weight and is loved by many New Zealander’s here and abroad. I’m delighted to see it receive the recognition it deserves and is a great credit to our winemaking and viticulture teams,” said Villa Maria Founder and President, Sir George Fistonich.
Villa Maria won the Heritage Class 2019 Rosebowl Trophy for Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah ’06, ’10 and ’16. The Heritage Category identifies and rewards a wine label that is of consistently exceptional quality and has demonstrated the capacity to develop elegance and complexity over time.
A perennial performer, the Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2016 has once again taken out the Champion Cabernet Sauvignon and Blend Trophy, and Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018 won the Champion Pinot Gris Trophy.
“These results are a credit to our incredible team, great vineyards and our absolute passion of unwavering commitment to produce world-class wines,” Fistonich said. “We are proudly New Zealand and family owned and also immensely proud of what the whole NZ Wine Industry has achieved globally over such a short period of time. We have such strong competition in the industry and it spurs us to keep on striving to be the best and enhancing New Zealand’s place on the global stage.”
GOLD MEDALS:
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Gris 2018
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2017
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Noir 2014
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir 2015
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2015
- Villa Maria Reserve Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
- Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2017
- Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
- Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2016
- Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018
- Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
- Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Syrah 2017
