Cellar Selection Syrah
β³ 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.
π½οΈ Food & Wine Pairings
Slow-roasted rosemary lamb shanks, grilled venison loin, or earthy wild mushroom risotto.
β¨ 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.
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.