Founded in 1961 by current owner and Managing Director, George Fistonich, Villa Maria is a privately owned winery. Villa Maria produces New Zealand’s most awarded wines and has achieved acclaim, both nationally and internationally since the early 1980’s.

This outstanding achievement is due to an uncompromising commitment and dedication to quality at all stages of the grape growing and winemaking processes.

Villa Maria sources grapes from each of New Zealand’s premium grape growing regions: Marlborough, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and produces wines in two state of the art wineries situated in Marlborough and Auckland. Villa Maria was the first major wine company in New Zealand to seal their wines with screwcaps, ensuring their wine reaches the consumer just as the winemaker intended.

Villa Maria has been awarded:
- New World Winery of the Year 2007 - Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wine Star Awards (USA)
- New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year - International Wine & Spirit Competition 2007 (UK)
- New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year - Winestate Magazine Awards 2007 (AUS)