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.
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Northern Portugal With Kids: Porto, the Douro Valley & Gerês: Your Perfect Family Weekend
I’ve said it so many times, but it’s worth saying again: Portugal is the most underrated country for families in Europe. And while most families who do visit are busy planning their Lisbon itinerary or counting down the days to the Algarve beaches, northern Portugal is sitting up there quietly being spectacular. We’re talking cobblestoned riverfront cities, wild national parks where horses roam free, terraced vineyards dropping straight into a UNESCO-listed river valley, and some of the warmest hospitality in all of Europe. Oh, and the food? Amazing!
If you’re planning a family trip to Portugal, you need to consider heading north, with this itinerary as your guide. Three days, three very different experiences: Porto with kids, the Douro Valley with kids, and Peneda-Gerês National Park, all designed for families. Let’s go.
Already planning a bigger Portugal adventure? Don’t miss my guides to Sintra, Belém, and Lagos or explore all my Portugal posts.
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Best Moments | England | Europe | Family | Featured
Things to Do in Richmond London: An Unforgettable Ted Lasso Day Trip With Kids
If you have watched even one episode of Ted Lasso, you already know Richmond. The corner pub. The green with the soccer goals. That little row of shops that looks like somebody painted it for a postcard.
Maybe you didn’t realize that Richmond is real part of London, twenty minutes from central London by train, and there is so much more to it than the filming locations. We visited Richmond during a trip to London and Copenhagen, it ended up being one of my favorite days of the whole trip. We even had the “should we move here” moment, just like Ted Lasso.
Now that Ted Lasso is back, everyone is asking about Richmond again. So I’ve gathered all the best things to do in Richmond London, from the show’s filming spots to the deer in Richmond Park, plus every way to get there.
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Ireland Itinerary With Kids: How to Spend 7 Days in the Beautiful Emerald Isle
Ireland is a destination that seems to work well at every age and stage of family travel, and this Ireland itinerary proves it. The country is compact enough that you can cover a lot of ground in a week, but every stretch of road feels like it deserves more time. Castles appear constantly, the countryside is quintessentially green and rolling, and the pace tends to be relaxed in a way that makes traveling with kids feel manageable rather than exhausting. Plus, the Irish absolutely love kids and babies, which makes every local encounter feel pleasant and welcomed.
Our Ireland itinerary is built around one week and is focused on the southwest, which is where families will get the most out of their visit. Starts in Dublin, then heads down to Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, and up to Galway. If you only have time for one part of Ireland, the Killarney area is the one worth prioritizing.
