Villa Maria Winery in Auckland: A Wine Lover’s Playground
Villa Maria‘s sauvignon blanc is one of my favorites in the States, so I was thrilled to find out that they have a winery and vineyard right in Auckland. Villa Maria Winery makes it easy to visit within the city. One of my favorite things to do in any new country is visit their wine regions. Not only do you get to sample some tasty local beverages, you also learn so much about the country’s history and culture. After all, in wine there is truth 😉.
Before you go
Heads up: the Villa Maria Auckland tasting room is permanently closed. If you’d like the Villa Maria experience now, plan your visit to the Villa Maria Marlborough Cellar Door in Fairhall, just outside Blenheim. It’s open Monday–Friday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at Corner of Paynters & New Renwick Road, Fairhall, Blenheim. You can reach the team at +64 3 520 8472 or villamaria.cellardoor@indevin.com
What follows is my Auckland visit from 2017, kept here to help you get a feel for the experience and the wines, even though that specific location is now closed.
Villa Maria Winery Tour
Villa Maria Auckland is a wine lover’s playground. A perfect day trip for connoisseurs and novices alike, there are endless opportunities here to learn and indulge.
The first part of your visit should be a tour of the winemaking facility. My tour was led by one of Villa Maria Estate’s market managers, Ian Clark, who has been in the spirits industry since 1955. During our tour, we also got a quick meet and greet with Villa Maria’s Owner and Founder, Sir George Fistonich, who is credited as one of the founding fathers of winemaking in New Zealand. You can’t beat face time the people who started it all while you’re learning about how their wines are made!
Tasting
Now onto the good stuff—the wine! You can’t very well visit a winery without sampling the wine, so a wine tasting has to be on your agenda. Mine was with senior winemaker, Dave Roper. Villa Maria exports 70 percent of their wines, so it was great to taste five wines that are available in the US. I’ve been a fan of Villa Maria sauvignon blanc for a long time. I had no idea that they made so many other of my favorite varietals and some new ones I don’t normally try. The Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris were instant favorites that I’m planning to look for now that I’m back home. Make sure you try them!
The winemakers at Villa Maria are a wealth of knowledge about everything from the soil to the final product. Even though we were only visiting the Auckland region on this trip, we learned all about the other winemaking regions in NZ. I’m already mentally planning a trip back to explore more of the north island and the south island, which will, of course, include a visit to Villa Maria Marlborough.
BONUS! The Café
You might come for the wine, but you should definitely stay for the food. EVERYTHING. WAS. AMAZING. This was one of the best meals I had during the trip—totally unexpected from a cafe at a winery. Every item on the menu has a perfect pairing suggestion. My personal favorite was the salmon with the pinot gris. Lunch is also a perfect opportunity to taste some of the wines you don’t have at the tasting. I choose the albariño and viognier—yum! With a view out over the vineyard and a glass of wine in your hand, the cafe is the perfect spot to admire the beauty that is New Zealand wines and Villa Maria. Cheers!
Villa Maria Winery: Sustainability You Can See
Villa Maria not only has some of the tastiest wines. I love that they’re also dedicated to their impact on the next generation. The world never feels so small as when we touch every corner of it. As a world traveler, I love to support companies that do what they can to minimize their impact on the environment.
And these guys are taking it to the next level. We’re talking things I’ve never seen at another winery (and I’ve been to wineries on four continents!)—like those famous New Zealand sheep tending the soil and natural light in the barrel rooms. So you really should have that second glass (bottle?) of wine, and throw your support to Villa Maria’s sustainable cause.
For a little extra context: Villa Maria Winery helped found Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand in 1997 and keeps its vineyards and wineries certified today. Their bottles use an average of 67% recycled glass, and through the New Zealand Glass Packaging Forum, every tonne of glass recycled saves about 670 kg of CO₂ versus new materials. They’ve also partnered with New Zealand Ethical Employers (2023) to strengthen worker standards, and from 2024 some wines ship in tanks to be bottled in the UK—cutting shipping and glass emissions by about 27%. All of it points to the same goal: grow grapes sustainably, use resources wisely, and take care of people and place.
Check out this video of our behind-the-scenes tour
Final Thoughts
Villa Maria Winery made Auckland an easy yes for wine lovers, and I’m glad I experienced it when I did. Even though the Auckland tasting room is now closed, the heart of the Villa Maria winery experience lives on in Marlborough. If you’re planning a New Zealand trip, add the Marlborough Cellar Door to your list, taste a sauvignon blanc and a pinot gris, and leave time for lunch. The winemaking, the people, and the focus on sustainability are still the draw.
If you love learning a place through its wines, Villa Maria Winery is worth the detour. Go for the tasting, ask questions, and bring home a bottle you will open on a quiet night when you want to remember New Zealand.
If you have any questions or need further advice feel free to email me or send me a message on Instagram. I’m always happy to share more tips and insights to help make your family’s adventures unforgettable!
This post was created in partnership with Villa Maria.
-
Best Moments | Europe | Family | Featured | Portugal
Things To Do In Belém: A Can’t-Miss Day Trip (Plus Pastéis De Belém)
Belém is an easy day trip from Lisbon with Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, a scenic waterfront walk, and the original Pastéis de Belém. Use this guide to plan the best things to do in Belém in one simple route.
-
Essential Things to Do in Lisbon for First-Timers
Things to do in Lisbon: plan the itinerary with viewpoints, fado at night, Tram 28, neighborhood tips, and easy day trips to Sintra and Belém.
-
Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen: Family Guide to Rides, Tickets, and Food
Tivoli Gardens was at the very top of our list when we started planning Copenhagen with kids. It is right in the middle of the city, it feels like a classic amusement park and a botanical garden at the same time, and it works just as well for a quick afternoon as it does for a full day. We spent most of the day bouncing between kid-friendly rides, snack stops, and quiet corners where the boys (ages 6 and 4 at the time) could run around or just watch the lights.
In this guide, I’ll walk through what Tivoli Gardens is, how Tivoli Gardens tickets work, our favorite rides, family-friendly food options and practical tips for visiting with kids.
