Cellar Selection Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 3 to 8 years from the vintage release, when its vibrant fruit profile and spicy oak integration are in perfect harmony.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-roasted rosemary lamb shanks, grilled venison loin, or earthy wild mushroom risotto.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the sun-drenched terraces of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's oldest and most prestigious wine-growing region, the Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah is a testament to the pioneering spirit of founder Sir George Fistonich, who started Villa Maria in 1961. This wine showcases the unique terroir of Hawke's Bay, where ancient riverbeds and gravelly soils reflect heat to help slow-ripening Syrah reach optimal maturity. Crafted with fruit selected from prime vineyards across the region, including the famed Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle, this Syrah is typically aged in French oak barriques. It beautifully bridges the gap between Old World elegance and New World fruit intensity, delivering a fragrant bouquet of cracked black pepper, dark plums, and violet florals, underpinned by a refined, savory structure.
🍾 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.