NZ producers worth shouting out about
VILLA MARIA
A toast to organics
More than two decades ago Sir George Fistonich’s nephew Fabian placed a challenge at the Villa Maria founder’s feet: to take its winemaking organic. Sir George agreed, because it was the right thing to do. But it required more than simply letting the vineyard adapt on its own.
“We had to really innovate, use new techniques and technology to do it better,” says Karen Titulaer, Villa Maria head of sustainability. “It’s actually been a massive journey for the viticulture team. It’s taken us 20 years of learning,” she says as the 60-year-old winery celebrates launching its first fully organic range, EarthGarden.
The range includes a Hawke’s Bay rosé, a merlot cabernet sauvignon, a Marlborough sauvignon blanc and a pinot noir.
“The winemakers love it because they’re making wine that really reflects the land the grapes are grown on and has that distinctive flavour.”
With a Villa Maria wine purchased every three seconds in the United Kingdom, the challenge was in producing huge volumes of quality grapes using organic methods.
“EarthGarden is so important because we want to show that
