An Exceptional Night for Villa Maria Estate
Monday 21 March 2011, 7:57AM
By Villa Maria Estate
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The wine company's Managing Director and founder Sir George Fistonich was also honoured with the announcement that he has been inducted to the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame for services the wine industry.
In a first for the show the Winemaker of the Year Award was a joint award given to Villa Maria Estate's Group Winemaker Alastair Maling MW and Senior Auckland Winemaker Nick Picone.
This haul of awards follows the recent announcement that Villa Maria Estate secured a record 17 Golds at the same show.
Villa Maria Estate awards summary:
Trophy for Champion Viognier - Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Viognier 2010
Trophy for Champion Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008
Trophy for Champion Syrah - Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah 2009
Champion Wine of the Show - Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah 2009
Winemaker of the Year - Joint, Alastair Maling MW and Nick Picone
The Royal Easter Show Wine Awards is New Zealand's oldest wine competition and this year had a record 1500 wines entered from 276 wineries around the country.
Sir George's other boutique wine company Vidal Estate was also the recipient of a trophy for Champion Chardonnay - Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009
Other 2011 Royal Easter Show Awards for Vidal include:
Gold - Vidal Reserve Chardonnay 2009
Gold - Vidal Marlborough Riesling 2010
Gold - Vidal Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah 2007
Ends
Images attached:
Karen Fistonich, Sir George Fistonich, Gail Fistonich
Winemakers, from back left, Nick Picone, Sir George Fistonich, Karen Fistonich, Simon Fell. Bottom left to right, Dave Roper, Alastair Maling MW
About Villa Maria
Villa Maria has been New Zealand's most awarded winery for 30 years. Founded by George Fistonich in 1961 and still privately owned today, Villa Maria is one of the great wine companies of the world. Sourced from expertly managed wineries in the best growing regions of New Zealand, the Villa Maria Estate range is enjoyed in over 50 countries worldwide.
With a strong sustainability focus and absolute commitment to quality, Villa Maria has won critical acclaim for its ability to "express individual winemakers' flair" with the stamp of a "perfectionist's zeal" and to create "beautifully crafted" wines of "supernatural consistency".
Villa Maria wines are served at some of New Zealand's finest restaurants, including Antoine's, Cibo, Sails Restaurant, Vinnies, Logan Brown, Harbourside, Soul Bar and Merediths.
The Villa Maria Estate range includes: Private Bin, Cellar Selection, Reserve, and Single Vineyard wines.
Visit www.villamaria.co.nz for more information.