Cellar Selection Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 1 to 5 years from the vintage release to appreciate its vibrant fruit character and integrated oak complexity.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Pan-seared scallops, roast chicken with tarragon, or creamy pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Villa Maria, founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, stands as an icon of New Zealand's modern wine revolution. The Cellar Selection Chardonnay showcases the unique terroir of Hawke's Bay, one of the country's oldest and warmest wine-growing regions. Benefiting from a maritime climate and diverse alluvial soils, this 100% Chardonnay is crafted to strike a harmonious balance between fruit purity and complexity. The winemaking process typically involves partial wild yeast fermentation in French oak barriques combined with cool tank fermentation, followed by a period of lees stirring and partial malolactic fermentation. This technique imparts a creamy texture, subtle toasted brioche, and hazelnut undertones to the vibrant stone fruit and citrus core, reflecting the pioneering spirit of a winery that helped put New Zealand on the global wine map.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich in Auckland, Villa Maria has grown from a visionary one-man operation into one of New Zealand's most acclaimed and globally recognized wineries. The estate meticulously sources exceptional fruit from premier winegrowing regions across the country, including Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and Gisborne, to craft expressive wines that reflect their unique regional terroirs. Renowned for its pioneering spirit, Villa Maria was a trailblazer in adopting screwcap closures to preserve freshness and remains deeply committed to sustainable and organic viticulture. Their diverse portfolio is celebrated for vibrant Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, elegant single-vineyard Pinot Noirs like Taylors Pass and Seddon, and rich, structured Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blends from Hawke's Bay.