Cellar Selection Grenache
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 2 to 6 years from vintage release to capture its bright, youthful fruit and aromatic spice.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Rosemary-crusted roast lamb, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, or duck confit.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.