Awards & Achievements
Villa Maria’s success began in the 1980’s and has continued to grow in the decades that have followed.
The winery has been so successful over these years that it now lays claim to the title of New Zealand’s most awarded winery, an honour which reflects Villa Maria’s uncompromising commitment and dedication to quality at all stages of the grape growing and winemaking process.
Villa Maria’s owner, George Fistonich, believes that the secret to the winery’s success does not lie in chasing awards but rather focusing on making superior quality wine that consumers can readily enjoy. Get this right and the awards naturally follow.
Highlights from Villa Maria’s achievements include:
- Named one of the world’s 50 great wine producers by American magazine Wine Spectator
- New Zealand Wine Company of the Year at Australia’s Winestate Wine Awards (ten times in eleven years)
- Owner George Fistonich, knighted by the New Zealand government for service to the wine industry
- George Fistonich short listed as one of 50 prominent figures in the wine industry by UK Wine International Magazine in 2005
- George Fistonich named Ernst & Young 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year
View our Recent Awards
View the Villa Maria Estate 30 Year Award History