The trophies have been handed out at two of New Zealand’s leading wine awards and we’re thrilled to share our success. Chardonnay lovers this first one is for you.
Celebrating the very best of Hawkes Bay wines, Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2019 was awarded Champion Wine of Show and Champion Chardonnay at the Hawkes Bay Wine Awards 2020. These trophies add to an incredible pedigree with the 2018 vintage awarded Winestate Wine of the Year 2019, and the 2017 vintage secured gold medals at the New Zealand Wine of the Year and Hawkes Bay Wine Awards.
Following the Hawkes Bay Wine Awards was The New Zealand International Wine Show, the largest wine competition in the country. Amongst the 16 gold medals for Villa Maria, our Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Merlot won Champion Merlot and Champion New Zealand Bordeaux Red Wine Trophies, a standout result for this excellent value wine.
The real highlight of our evening however was to see Chief Wine Maker, Nick Picone, crowned Wine Maker of the Show. Nick has been with Villa Maria more than 22 years where he started his career as a Cellar Hand, rapidly rising through the ranks to his eventual appointment as Chief Winemaker in 2015. It was a very proud moment for our team and for Nick.
