Villa Maria News

Our New Release Single Vineyard Wines

Published 10 November 2025

On the 1st of November we proudly release the highly-anticipated new vintages from our Single Vineyard collection. The wines capture a moment in time, each imparted with a unique story of season, soil and growing environment.

Our New Release Single Vineyard Wines

On the 1st of November we proudly release the highly-anticipated new vintages from our Single Vineyard collection.

 

Each Single Vineyard site is chosen having long produced our most exceptional wines, embodying the influence of diverse terroirs. The wines capture a moment in time, each imparted with a unique story of season, soil and growing environment. Every year is different, and their characteristics not only talk to a sense of place, they embody the pride, skill and passion of the entire Villa Maria team.

 

These wines from the outstanding 2024 and 2025 vintages represent the best of our regions and the culmination of over 60 years of winemaking experience in Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

Read on to discover more about our exceptional Single Vineyard sites and the unique collection of new vintage wines.

 

 

Growing Region

Marlborough

Marlborough sits on the north eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand, surrounded by the inland Kaikoura Ranges to the south and the Richmond Ranges to the north.

 

These rugged mountains are responsible for New Zealand’s driest and sunniest climate with an average of 2,435 hours of sunshine, regulated by the cooling ocean influence, elongating the ripening period.

 

Marlborough is composed of three sub-regions, each with their own distinctive characteristics and nuances, which are experienced in every taste.

 

2025 Growing Season

The 2025 Marlborough vintage was marked by abundant yields and Marlborough’s classic settled weather, which allowed for slow and even ripening. The result is elegant wines with exceptional purity and freshness.

 

 

Marlborough

Seaspray Vineyard

Seaspray Vineyard lies against the rugged eastern coastline of the Awatere Valley where the fresh ocean air slows the growing season to develop Sauvignon Blanc of incredible power and concentration.

 

The vines are still young, so we expect the wines intensity to only increase as the vineyard reaches maturity.

Marlborough

Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc 2025

The 2025 Seaspray Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc has distinctive briny seashell characters and lively acidity derived from the nearby oceanic influence. Flavours of kaffir lime, capsicum and freshly picked culinary herbs represent the cooler windy coastal Awatere sub region in Marlborough where these young Sauvignon Blanc vines struggle to grow in the sandy river gravel soil.

Discover this wine

Marlborough

Taylors Pass Vineyard

Located on the northern bank of the Awatere River, the average vine age in our Taylors Pass Vineyard is between 14-19 years old. Sheltered from prevailing cool easterly winds, each terrace of the vineyard has varying soil types, stony gravels are  nearest to the river, whereas the mid-terrace has silt over gravels and the highest terrace is deeper silt over clay-papa base.

 

This patchwork of soil types provides the vineyard with dramatically variable ripening patterns.

Marlborough

Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc 2025

The 2025 Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc displays bright, lifted aromas of new season blackcurrants and raspberries layered with lime zest, freshly cut sage and coriander. The palate shows flavours of jalapeno and lemongrass, leading into a mouthwatering, saline finish with hints of white peach and basil. Moorish fresh acidity completes this wine.

Discover this wine

2024 Growing Season

Low rainfall over winter and cooler weather at flowering resulted in lower yields for the 2024 harvest. The growing season unfolded with Marlborough’s classic dry conditions, marked by warm days and cool nights. These idyllic conditions and reduced yields produced pristine grapes with concentrated flavours and fresh acidity.

 

 

Marlborough

Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2024

A cooler climate, mineral-driven style of Chardonnay, this wine exhibits complex aromas of white peach, fresh citrus and toasted almonds. The palate is layered and textural, with flavours of grapefruit, quince and nougat, all tied together with fresh and focused acidity.

Discover this wine

Growing Region

Gisborne

Famous for surfing, seafood and sun, Gisborne produces wonderfully ripe and flavour-filled wines and is unofficially named the ‘Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand’.

 

Grape varietals that grow successfully in Gisborne need plenty of sunshine and ripen early on in the autumn period. Chardonnay is the most dominant variety, making up the majority of our plantings. We also produce excellent aromatic Arneis and Gewürztraminer wines using Gisborne grapes.

2024 Growing Season

The 2024 harvest was exceptional, following a hot, dry summer and cool evenings that enhanced flavour and acidity. Low-yielding vines ripened early, producing clean, ripe fruit. This allowed winemakers to craft a truly sensational vintage.

 

 

Gisborne

McDiarmid Hill

McDiarmid Hill is Villa Maria’s jewel in the crown Gisborne vineyard, beautifully positioned on an elevated north facing hillside slope in Patutahi. Taking full advantage of sunlight, drying wind conditions, slightly cooler temperatures and natural water drainage, the additional elevation provides a wonderful advantage for producing this consistently outstanding wine.

 

Small parcels of mature dry -farmed Mendoza vines are handpicked and fruit is gently pressed to fermentation in French oak barriques to produce powerful and complex Chardonnay.

Gisborne

McDiarmid Hill Chardonnay 2024

Capturing the qualities of a spectacular vineyard, McDiarmid Hill offers ripe tropical fruit aromas, fig and smoky grilled nut notes. The palate is lavishly textured, leading to a long finish extended by fine acidity. This bold, concentrated wine retains a balance that will appeal for immediate enjoyment but will also benefit from maturation.

Discover this wine