Cellar Selection Grenache
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 2 to 6 years from vintage release to capture its bright, youthful fruit and aromatic spice.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Rosemary-crusted roast lamb, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, or duck confit.
✨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria, founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, is a legendary name in New Zealand winemaking, celebrated for its pioneering spirit. While Hawke's Bay is globally famous for its Syrah and Cabernet blends, Villa Maria's Cellar Selection Grenache highlights the region's remarkable versatility. Grown in the warm, stony soils of Hawke's Bay—where ancient riverbeds act as thermal heat sinks to ripen this sun-loving variety—this wine represents a rare and expressive New World take on Grenache. The winemaking team focuses on preserving the grape's natural vibrancy, using gentle extraction and seasoned oak maturation to yield a wine bursting with ripe red berries, white pepper, and soft, approachable tannins.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, Villa Maria stands as one of New Zealand's most celebrated and pioneering wine producers. From its historic roots in Auckland, the winery has established extensive vineyard holdings across the premier winegrowing regions of Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and Gisborne. Renowned for its steadfast dedication to sustainability and quality innovation, Villa Maria played an instrumental role in shaping modern New Zealand viticulture and championing regional expressiveness. The estate's diverse portfolio ranges from the globally recognized Private Bin series to site-specific single-vineyard and Reserve wines, excelling in vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, refined Pinot Noir, complex Chardonnay, and structured Hawke's Bay red blends.