Villa Maria has received the Champion Producer of the Show, Champion Wine of the Show, Champion Winemaker of the Show (Nick Picone), Champion Chardonnay, plus 14 gold medals at the largest wine show in New Zealand, the New Zealand International Wine Show 2015.
The top performing wine was Villa Maria’s Single Vineyard Taylor’s Pass Marlborough Chardonnay 2014, a wine that is no stranger to the Champion title. The 2012 vintage of this wine has won two of the country’s Champion Wine of Show titles over the past two years.
Villa Maria’s Group Chief Winemaker, Nick Picone was named Champion Winemaker of the Show.
Villa Maria’s Group Chief Winemaker, Nick Picone was also honoured with the coveted Winemaker of the Show title, adding to his already impressive track record and resume of personal award-winning performance with the winery. He said: “The Chardonnay trophy for Taylor’s Pass was especially pleasing as it continues a history of succession with this variety across the four regions we source from. The Taylor’s Pass Chardonnay is a beautiful wine produced by a very passionate Marlborough team from an outstanding site, and is just reward for the astute attention to detail that is applied to each stage of its production. Villa Maria as Producer of the Show is hugely rewarding for our team of viticulturists and winemakers across the country and once again enforces the high quality we can achieve from multiple varieties across multiple sites.”
Villa Maria CEO, Sir George Fistonich commented: “What absolutely outstanding results for the total Villa Maria team, we’re thrilled.”
The gold medal wins represent many of the company’s wine regions, including Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and Marlborough along with a selection of varietals: Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah and a sweet wine.
Villa Maria’s Trophy and Gold Results
Trophy
Champion Producer of the Show – Villa Maria
Champion Wine of Show & Champion Chardonnay – Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2014
Champion Winemaker of the Show – Nick Picone, Group Chief Winemaker
Gold
Villa Maria Private Bin East Coast Pinot Gris 2015
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015
Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2014
Villa Maria Reserve Gisborne Barrique Fermented Chardonnay 2014
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2013
Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir 2013
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Organic Merlot 2013
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Merlot 2013
Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Syrah 2011
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Grenache 2014
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Noble Semillon 2011
