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The lighter side of kiwi wines

Published:  23 February, 2024

Moving past the Sauvignon haze, which accounts for 80% of the country’s production, New Zealand-based writer and winemaker Oliver Styles looks beyond the heavy-hitting whites and reds led by Pinot Noir, to those new and interesting varieties coming up behind.

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Analysis: Green targets and scope 3 emissions

Published:  04 September, 2023

The global beverage industry has some serious catching up to do if it is to have a hope of hitting its 2030 and 2050 green targets, with Scope 3 emissions woefully lacking in pace. Jo Gilbert reports.

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Tech: Wine goes heavy on sustainability

Published:  23 August, 2023

Lightweighting is often the first stop for businesses in their sustainability journey. In recent years, the industry has moved on to bigger, more holistic goals. However, innovation around changing both minds and bottle weight continues, writes Jo Gilbert.

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Villa Maria embraces bulk in drive to cut emissions

Published:  07 June, 2023

The Indevin Group, owners of New Zealand brand Villa Maria, has announced plans to ship a selection of its wines to the UK in bulk. They will then be bottled by the firm Encric, at its plant in Cheshire.

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New Zealand: Sauvignon’s next step

Published:  01 March, 2023

Years of research have helped to develop a deeply cultivated understanding of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at home and abroad, with clear messaging and a finely tuned wine style that appeals the world over. Jo Gilbert asks, where does the story go from here?

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Villa Maria finds buyer following mounting debts

Published:  02 August, 2021

Leading New Zealand winery Villa Maria has signed a conditional agreement for the sale of its estate, three months after it officially went into receivership when it was revealed that it owed bankers NZD $212 million.

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Villa Maria launches first organic range

Published:  24 February, 2021

Villa Maria has unveiled its first organic range as part of its commitment to converting 100% of its company vineyards to be organically managed by 2030. 

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New Zealand just shy of organics target, but growth continues

Published:  11 February, 2021

New Zealand has just missed its self-imposed 2020 organics target, though a groundswell of producers switching up their practices means the country could be on track to reach the milestone within the next couple of years.

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Villa Maria looks to sell surplus land as part of global growth ambitions

Published:  05 November, 2020

Leading New Zealand estate Villa Maria has announced it is aiming to sell 31 ha of surplus land surrounding its headquarters in Mangere, Auckland, and is exploring raising capital to accelerate growth plans worldwide.

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Distillers charity pledges £50,000 to The Drinks Trust

Published:  28 April, 2020

The Distillers’ Charity has pledged £50,000 to The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund.

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Villa Maria trials native plants as herbicides alternative

Published:  21 February, 2020

Villa Maria Estate has embarked on a trial using native plants and cover crops as an alternative to herbicides. 

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Villa Maria hires Matt Deller

Published:  15 January, 2020

Leading Kiwi wine producer Villa Maria has picked Matt Deller MW as its new chief global sales and marketing officer.

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Ditch ‘low and no’ for ‘lighter’ wine to engage wellness generation, say Kiwi winemakers

Published:  12 November, 2019

A collaboration of New Zealand producers dedicated to producing naturally lower alcohol wines is urging the trade to step beyond the low/no bunker mentality and “celebrate great wines with 30-40% less alcohol”.

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Syrah drinkers most social media-friendly, survey finds

Published:  05 August, 2019

Social media has made face-to-face conversation unnecessary for some 85% of Syrah drinkers, who prefer to keep in touch with friends and family via technology.

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Villa Maria hails “greatest ever harvest”

Published:  12 July, 2019

Top kiwi winemaker Villa Maria is full of enthusiasm for its wines from the 2019 vintage, with “numerous highlights” from the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas leading the winery to declare its best ever harvest.

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Vidal relocates to state-of-the-art winery to cement fine wine position

Published:  16 July, 2018

Vidal, one of New Zealand’s oldest wineries, has relocated from Hastings to a new state-of-the-art winery in the Gimbletts Gravels, Hawkes Bay.

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Sir George Fistonich steps down as Villa Maria CEO after 55 years

Published:  14 February, 2018

Top New Zealand winery Villa Maria has a new CEO.

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