Noble Riesling Botrytis Selection Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic blue cheeses, glazed apricot or pear tarts, and rich savory starters like duck liver pâté.
✨ Technical Specifications
Villa Maria, founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, is a cornerstone of New Zealand's modern wine industry. Their Noble Riesling Botrytis Selection Reserve showcases Marlborough's unique ability to produce world-class dessert wines. In the late autumn, cool morning mists rising from the river valleys meet warm, breezy afternoons, creating the ideal microclimate for Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) to flourish. The hand-harvested, shriveled Riesling grapes yield an incredibly concentrated nectar. Slow fermentation preserves the intense, honeyed stone fruit characters, vibrant citrus zest, and the signature crisp acidity that perfectly balances the luscious sweetness of this classic botrytized style.
🍾 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.
🍇 Grape Varieties
100% Riesling