Earth Garden Rose
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2023
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh Mediterranean salads, grilled prawns, or light soft cheeses like goat's cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria's Earth Garden range represents a dedicated shift toward ecological harmony and certified organic viticulture in New Zealand. Sourced from the sun-drenched, gravelly soils of Hawke's Bay—one of the nation's oldest and most celebrated wine regions—this Rosé is typically crafted from organically grown Merlot. The 'Earth Garden' name reflects the estate's practice of planting wildflowers and cover crops to encourage biodiversity and natural pest control, eschewing synthetic chemicals entirely. The grapes are gently pressed to extract a delicate pale pink hue and cool-fermented in stainless steel, preserving the pure, vibrant aromas of fresh summer berries, red fruits, and subtle floral undertones that define this modern Kiwi classic.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, Villa Maria evolved from a modest five-acre leased plot in Māngere, 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.