Manukau business congratulated for extraordinary success

Manukau Mayor Len Brown is congratulating Villa Maria for another extraordinary year of success that saw its long list of awards grow even further.



The latest recognition is from influential American wine critic Michael Franz. He has named Villa Maria Estate as 2007’s world wine producer of the year. Villa Maria’s Reserve Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc were also singled out as “among the world’s best.”



In 2007 the Manukau-based company also won a number of other major awards. Highlights include the New World Winery of the Year award from United States magazine Wine Enthusiast and Group Winemaker Alastair Maling being named White Winemaker of the Year at the 2007 International Wine Challenge in the United Kingdom.



Mr Brown says the awards are recognition that Manukau and New Zealand companies can make a mark on the world.



“Villa Maria is a Manukau business doing extraordinary things on the international stage. They’re taking on the world and winning.



“I want to congratulate Villa Maria and George Fistonich for their outstanding business successes. We’re very proud to have the company in Manukau, which is one of the country’s economic drivers and home to a lot of innovation.



“Manukau City Council is committed to making the city a great place to do business and being a base for companies like Villa Maria to have success on the international stage,” Mr Brown says.