Sir George Fistonich was just 21 years old when he purchased five acres of land in Mangere. For the next ten years, he and his wife worked alone crafting red and white wines. It wasn’t until ten years later, in the 70s, that he hired his first employees.
Villa Maria has since grown substantially, today employing some 250 people and exporting to 50 countries. As the first New Zealander to seal all of his wines with screwcaps, this modern producer knows that the key to a successful wine is the quality of its grapes.
Despite its great success, the company continues to uphold the same philosophy and focuses on producing a superior quality wine that lives up to the expectations of its clientele.