{"title":"Villa Maria","description":"\u003cp\u003eVilla Maria is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated wineries, a pioneering estate that helped define the country’s modern wine identity and elevate New Zealand \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sauvignon-blanc-wines\" title=\"Sauvignon Blanc Wines\"\u003eSauvignon Blanc\u003c\/a\u003e onto the world stage. Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, the winery grew from a one‑man operation into a globally recognised name built on innovation, sustainability and an unwavering commitment to quality. Villa Maria’s vineyards stretch across some of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/new-zealand-wines\" title=\"New Zealand Wines\"\u003eNew Zealand\u003c\/a\u003e’s most prized regions, including Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland, each contributing distinct character and precision to the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/wine\"\u003ewines\u003c\/a\u003e. Today, the estate remains synonymous with purity, vibrancy and a deep respect for the land.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"villa-maria-clifford-bay-reserve-sauvignon-blanc-75cl","title":"Villa Maria Clifford Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/villa-maria\" title=\"Villa Maria Wines\"\u003eVilla Maria\u003c\/a\u003e Clifford Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc captures the hallmark vibrancy of Marlborough, combining pungent green aromatics with crisp natural acidity. Fresh, expressive and layered, it balances bright fruit with textural depth, making it a standout expression of the region's cool coastal vineyards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at its finest—vibrant, expressive, and beautifully layered. Clifford Bay takes its name from the dramatic coastline of southern Marlborough, where cool ocean breezes and stony soils shape wines of purity and freshness. The Reserve range showcases the estate's finest parcels, crafted with precision to highlight vineyard character and terroir. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc with exceptional aromatic intensity and textural depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVineyard \u0026amp; Production\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyards are exposed to cooling southerly winds that extend the growing season, allowing fruit to develop depth of flavour while retaining natural acidity. This unique climate encourages the development of the variety's signature pungent green notes alongside vibrant citrus and tropical fruit. The 2023 vintage delivered an outstanding year across Marlborough, with early-season rains setting up strong canopies, while moderate temperatures ensured slow ripening and excellent flavour development. Looser bunches and dry weather from veraison to harvest meant clean fruit with exceptional vibrancy and clarity. Fermented entirely in stainless steel with carefully selected aromatic and textural yeast strains, with a short time on lees to add palate weight and texture while preserving freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis vibrant Sauvignon Blanc opens with vivid aromas of green herbs, citrus and tropical fruit. The palate is crisp, layered and zesty, showing bright fruit character with textural depth and bright natural acidity. The finish is long and mineral, with exceptional clarity and freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePerfect Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA versatile food wine, perfect with seafood, especially freshly shucked oysters, grilled fish, goat cheese, or fresh salads. Also excellent with Asian cuisine and light summer dishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Blend\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Sauvignon Blanc from Clifford Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Villa Maria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51250837160279,"sku":"118526","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0899\/6824\/7127\/files\/xxl_9668-villa-maria-clifford-bay.jpg?v=1753186212"},{"product_id":"villa-maria-reserve-cabernet-sauvignon-merlot-75cl","title":"Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003eVilla Maria's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is one of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/new-zealand-wines\" title=\"New Zealand Wines\"\u003eNew Zealand's\u003c\/a\u003e most celebrated red blends, sourced entirely from the Gimblett Gravels growing region in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hawkes-bay-wines\" title=\"Hawkes Bay Wines\"\u003eHawkes Bay\u003c\/a\u003e. Grown on free-draining gravelly soils with low yields and a long, warm growing season, this is a wine of real concentration, structure and age-worthiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Hawkes Bay red winemaking at its most serious and rewarding. The Gimblett Gravels is one of the world's great sites for Bordeaux varieties, and Villa Maria's Reserve tier showcases exactly why. Densely coloured, richly aromatic and beautifully structured, this wine is approachable in its youth but built to reward patience in the cellar. Whether you open it now with a decant or lay it down for a few years, it delivers at every stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eVineyard and Production\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruit is sourced from multiple parcels across the Gimblett Gravels, each contributing its own character to the final blend. The free-draining gravelly soils encourage deep root systems and naturally low yields, producing fruit that is richly concentrated in colour, flavour and structure. After destemming and crushing, the grapes undergo extended skin contact before fermentation in stainless steel. The wine is then transferred to new French oak barrels for 16 months of ageing, integrating tannins and building complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDensely coloured with lovely aromatics on the nose, layers of red and black plum mingling with cassis, smoky roast coffee bean, dried thyme and complex cedary spice. The palate is soft yet concentrated, with wonderfully fine-grained tannins and beautifully integrated oak. Long, structured and age-worthy, with a finish that lingers with real elegance and depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePerfect Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA natural partner for the dinner table. Excellent with roast lamb, beef Wellington, venison or slow-braised short rib. Also outstanding alongside aged hard cheeses or a classic charcuterie board. Decant before serving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGrape Varieties\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cabernet-sauvignon-wines\" title=\"Cabernet Sauvignon Wines\"\u003eCabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/merlot-wines\" title=\"Merlot Wines\"\u003eMerlot\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Villa Maria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51250964955479,"sku":"120064","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0899\/6824\/7127\/files\/xxl_11679-villa-maria-reserve-cabernet-sauvignon-merlot.jpg?v=1753187944"},{"product_id":"villa-maria-keltern-vineyard-single-vineyard-chardonnay-75cl","title":"Villa Maria Keltern Vineyard Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/villa-maria\" title=\"Villa Maria Wine\"\u003eVilla Maria\u003c\/a\u003e Keltern Vineyard Chardonnay is a wine from one of New Zealand's premier Chardonnay sites, with an impressive history of accolades. This release shows a brilliant straw and lime-tinted hue, with fragrant aromas of white nectarine, flint and subtle toasty complexity. The palate is sleek and tightly woven, gradually unfurling to a finish of length, precision and class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is single-vineyard Chardonnay at its finest—elegant, precise, and beautifully refined. The Keltern Vineyard, established in 1999, has earned a reputation as one of New Zealand's premier Chardonnay sites, consistently producing wines of distinction. Its unique location and meticulous viticulture have made it synonymous with premium Chardonnay in New Zealand. The result is a wine with exceptional finesse, concentration and ageing potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVineyard \u0026amp; Production\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSituated east of Maraekakaho in Hawke's Bay, the vineyard lies directly in the path of cool mountain air currents, moderated by the Ngaruroro River. This inland site sits on an ancient riverbed of silt loams layered over red metal soils, scattered with large, free-draining gravel stones. These conditions create a distinctive terroir that contributes both finesse and concentration to the wines. The Chardonnay is fermented exclusively with indigenous yeasts in French barriques, 27% new, with the remainder one to two years old. It then matures for 10 months in barrel, developing texture, complexity and balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis elegant Chardonnay displays a brilliant straw and lime-tinted hue. The nose is fragrant with aromas of white nectarine, flint and subtle toasty complexity. The palate is sleek and tightly woven, fine-boned yet powerful, carried by a taut structure and mineral precision. The finish is exceptionally long, showing length, precision and class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePerfect Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA versatile food wine, perfect with seared turbot, grilled veal chops with wild mushrooms, lobster, scallops, or creamy pasta. Also excellent with roast chicken and refined seafood dishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Blend\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Chardonnay from Keltern Vineyard, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Villa Maria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51251040616791,"sku":"121084","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0899\/6824\/7127\/files\/xxl_13026-Villa-Maria-Keltern-Vineyard-Single-Vineyard-Chardonnay-75cl.jpg?v=1753189136"},{"product_id":"villa-maria-taylors-pass-vineyard-single-vineyard-pinot-noir-75cl","title":"Villa Maria Taylors Pass Vineyard Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 75cl","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/villa-maria\" title=\"Villa Maria Wine\"\u003eVilla Maria\u003c\/a\u003e Taylors Pass Pinot Noir is an intensely ripe, concentrated expression from one of Marlborough's most distinctive single-vineyard sites. With a rich bouquet of brooding dark cherry, violets and fresh herbs, the palate shows fine tannins, soft acidity and graphite minerality, giving structure, focus and length. The finish unfolds with layers of dark chocolate, dried herbs and subtle oak spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is single-vineyard Pinot Noir at its finest—concentrated, elegant, and beautifully structured. Crafted with a single-vineyard philosophy, this wine reflects the unique terroir of Taylors Pass in Marlborough, offering an intensely ripe expression not often associated with the region. Precision viticulture and minimal intervention in the winery ensure a true expression of place. The result is a Pinot Noir with exceptional depth, complexity and ageing potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVineyard \u0026amp; Production\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Taylors Pass vineyard combines stony soils, which contribute fresh floral and red-fruited notes, with silt loams that provide depth, structure and graphite-like minerality. Warm and sheltered, the site is well suited to producing a more opulent style of Pinot Noir. The 2019 vintage saw lower fruit set due to a cool spring, producing open bunches of small, flavour-packed berries. From January, Marlborough experienced a long, hot, dry summer with cool nights—ideal conditions for achieving full flavour and phenolic ripeness while retaining natural freshness. Hand-harvested fruit was fermented with indigenous yeasts in open-top stainless-steel fermenters, with hand plunging for gentle extraction. The wine matured for 14 months in French oak barriques (25% new), undergoing wild malolactic fermentation and minimal fining with egg whites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis elegant Pinot Noir opens with intense dark cherry and violet aromatics with herbal undertones. The palate is finely structured, showing supple tannins and soft acidity, lifted by graphite minerality. The finish is long and layered with dark chocolate, dried herbs and subtle oak spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePerfect Pairings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA versatile food wine, perfect with turkey, lamb, pan-seared tuna, duck, mushroom dishes, or aged cheeses. Also excellent with game and refined dining.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Blend\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e100% Pinot Noir from Taylors Pass, Marlborough, New Zealand\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Villa Maria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51251080167767,"sku":"121655","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0899\/6824\/7127\/files\/xxl_13685-Villa-Maria-Taylors-Pass-Vineyard-Single-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir-2019-75cl.jpg?v=1753189854"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.drinkfinder.co.uk\/collections\/villa-maria.oembed","provider":"Drink Finder","version":"1.0","type":"link"}