Cellar Selection Albarino
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Freshly shucked oysters, grilled seafood such as prawns or white fish, and light summer salads with goat cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria, founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, has long been a pioneer in New Zealand winemaking. While Gisborne is traditionally celebrated as the Chardonnay capital of the country, it has also proven to be an exceptional home for the Spanish grape Albariño. Grown on the coastal plains of Gisborne—where the vines are among the first in the world to greet the morning sun—this wine benefits from a warm maritime climate and fertile, clay-silt soils. The Cellar Selection Albariño is crafted to showcase the pure, vibrant character of the fruit, utilizing temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation to preserve its aromatic intensity. The result is a beautifully expressive white wine defined by lime, peach, and floral notes, underpinned by a distinct salty minerality that pays homage to its coastal heritage.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, Villa Maria evolved from a modest five-acre leased plot in Māngere, Auckland, into one of New Zealand's foremost vinous institutions. Acquired by Indevin Group in 2021, the estate continues its legacy of regional and stylistic breadth, sourcing exceptional fruit from premier microclimates across Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, and Auckland. Viticultural operations emphasize environmental stewardship as a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, complemented by dedicated organic vineyard blocks. Production is delineated into tiers ranging from accessible Private Bin and Cellar Selection expressions to vineyard-designated benchmarks like the Seaspray and Southern Clays Sauvignon Blancs, alongside cellar-worthy Gimblett Gravels Bordeaux blends and single-vineyard Chardonnays. The winemaking team balances modern temperature-controlled stainless steel ferments for pristine aromatic vibrancy with targeted French oak maturation and lees contact for texturally layered, terroir-precise bottlings.