Cellar Selection Syrah
⏳ wine.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.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Slow-roasted rosemary lamb shanks, grilled venison loin, or earthy wild mushroom risotto.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 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.