Villa Maria is an award winning winery from New Zealand that produces some pretty stellar

Villa Maria Wines

Photo Via VillaMariaWine.com

wines. I recently had the pleasure of tasting a wide range of the wineries collection with Snooth Media. This virtual tasting lineup included: Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Hawkes Bay Rosé, Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Taylor’s Pass Chardonnay, Cellar Selection Pinot Noir, and the Cellar Selection Merlot- Cabernet. 

A bit about the winery…

The winery started small, with 1 acre of land with vines. George and his wife Gail ran the winery in the 1960’s, where George produced dry red and white wines with grapes sourced from the Auckland area. Once the winery began to expand, George built a team and today employs over 250 staff members as well as exports to over 50 countries! George’s focus is not to simply win wine awards for his own personal satisfaction. He strives on making superior wines that consumers enjoy; and the rewards naturally follow. He now has vineyards (since the company expanded) in Marlborough, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, and Gisborne. The winery is family owned and uses environmentally responsible techniques, also known as sustainable practices.

Villa Maria WinesFor those of you who do enjoy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but have yet to taste other wonderful wines from the region, Villa Maria offers a wide range for you to choose from.

Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc (Bubbly)– Bright and refreshing with pleasant notes of melon, lime, and grass. This frizzante style bubbly is crisp and refreshing with playful aromas and a lingering finish. I was pleasantly surprised by this wine, as it expresses all of the New Zealand freshness I love about the region, but in a sparkling style. $15

Private Bin Hawkes Bay Rosé- This wine has bright floral and strawberry aromas with some mild spice and smooth finish. This rosé is perfect for warm summer days and makes a great picnic or pool wine. $14

Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc- This wine is sourced from vineyards across the Marlborough region and is intense with notes of gooseberry, citrus, passionfruit, and herbs. On the palate it’s crisp, dry, and refreshing with bright acidity and elegance. $13

Villa Maria Wines

Taylor’s Pass Chardonnay- This single vineyard Chardonnay is gently crafted using a natural approach to winemaking. Taylor’s Pass Vineyard is located on a stony terrace on the northern side of the Awatere River in Marlborough, and you will find this wine expresses aromas of subtle citrus, mineral, and smoke notes with a nice long finish. $45

Cellar Selection Pinot Noir- This pinot noir has a bouquet of dark cherries, plums, and spice with beautiful long lasting flavors. It’s a complex and full bodied wine that can be enjoyed now with grilled meats, duck, and rabbit. This wine has the ability to cellar age as well, for another five to eight years. $26

Cellar Selection Merlot- Cabernet- This is an elegant, intense, and powerful red blend is dark and fragrant. This wine boasts seductive notes from the cabernet sauvignon and jammy fruit forward notes from the merlot. This is a blend from several Hawkes Bay vineyards, which is a region thats considered to be New Zealand’s home to Bordeaux varietals. This wine is complex and can be enjoyed now as well as has aging potential.

Villa Maria New Zealand wines are beautiful and purchase worthy. Theres a wine for every budget, style, and palate preference and I think that’s what makes this winery unique and timeless.