Cellar Selection Pinot Gris
β³ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
π½οΈ Food & Wine Pairings
Spicy Thai or Vietnamese cuisine, roasted pork with apple sauce, and creamy poultry dishes.
β¨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria, founded by Sir George Fistonich in 1961, is a cornerstone of New Zealand's winemaking history, celebrated for its pioneering spirit and commitment to quality. The Cellar Selection Pinot Gris highlights Marlborough's unique terroir, where intense sunshine and cool coastal breezes preserve vibrant acidity. Sourced from prime vineyards across the Wairau and Awatere Valleys, this wine undergoes cool fermentation in stainless steel to capture pure varietal aromas of ripe pear, red apple, and subtle ginger spice, while a period of lees aging lends a beautifully textured, rounded mouthfeel.
πΎ About the Producer
Established in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, Villa Maria evolved from a modest five-acre leased plot in MΔngere, 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.