Pioneer from a New Zealand vineyard
By Victoria Fei |
May 31, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NEW Zealand has long been famous for its stunning, unspoiled landscapes, and equal to its picturesque beauty is its fine wine.
With vision and determination, George Fistonich, who founded Villa Maria Estate in 1961, is on a world tour to celebrate 50 years of winemaking.
Visiting Shanghai last week, Fistonich brought fresh wines that beautifully complement New Zealand seafood, such as green lipped mussels, salmon and lobster, to New Zealand Central, a business-to-business center.
He also brought his story about founding and developing Villa Maria Estate into one of New Zealand's most award-winning wineries.
Fistonich's interest in winemaking started when New Zealand's wine industry was virtually non-existent. Wine was a central part of his upbringing.
"I grew up in an environment with wine and always enjoyed the taste. Being Croatian, I have winemaking in my blood," Fistonich says.
From an early age Fistonich had ambitions to be a winemaker, but his father had other ideas.
Fistonich's parents immigrated to New Zealand in the late 1920s and following Croatian tradition, the eldest son took up a profession and the second son, Fistonich, took up a trade. Fistonich became an apprentice carpenter and joiner.
However, Fistonich knew he did not want to be a builder. In 1961, at age 21, he leased five acres from his father in Mangere, Auckland, where just one acre was planted with vines. He harvested his first grapes in 1962 and made his first wine under the name Villa Maria.
Throughout the 1960s, Villa Maria was a one-man band, with Fistonich's wife, Gail, supporting him in his venture.
He made dry red and white wines, sourcing grapes from the greater Auckland region.
In the early 1970s he started to employ staff and the company expanded rapidly.
Today, Villa Maria has more than 250 permanent staff and exports to more than 50 countries. It has two state-of-the-art facilities in Auckland and Marlborough.
As an innovator in the wine industry, he undertook bold, environment-friendly moves, such as moving to all-screwcap bottles and declaring the winery a "cork-free zone," to protect cork trees.
Being environmentally responsible is a core objective.
"As a family company, the desire to leave something for the next generation is an ever-present and overriding business objective," he says.
"We have long been committed to being environmentally responsible and operating with sustainable practices."
The company has four organic vineyards and Fistonich plans to progressively implement organic practices throughout all the vineyards. Other sustainable practices include heat recovery, night air cooling system, natural lighting, recycling and hybrid vehicles.
Since the early 1980s, Villa Maria has been winning national and international awards.
But Fistonich says that while awards and recognition are great, they have never been his focus.
"These successes come from making quality the focus. If you are determined from the onset that you will not compromise on this, then you will never lose sight of what your purpose is.
"Great wine starts with exceptional vineyards and exceptional people," Fistonich says. "If you have these foundations, you have the best chance of making the best wines."
Since the business is family-owned, the team is very tight-knit. "Our winemakers have the opportunity to express their own flare. We are not restrained by any limitations, unlike a lot of larger wineries around the world."
Fistonich is also keen to nurture talented individuals and has established a winemaking and viticultural cadet scheme within Villa Maria Estate.
With vision and determination, George Fistonich, who founded Villa Maria Estate in 1961, is on a world tour to celebrate 50 years of winemaking.
Visiting Shanghai last week, Fistonich brought fresh wines that beautifully complement New Zealand seafood, such as green lipped mussels, salmon and lobster, to New Zealand Central, a business-to-business center.
He also brought his story about founding and developing Villa Maria Estate into one of New Zealand's most award-winning wineries.
Fistonich's interest in winemaking started when New Zealand's wine industry was virtually non-existent. Wine was a central part of his upbringing.
"I grew up in an environment with wine and always enjoyed the taste. Being Croatian, I have winemaking in my blood," Fistonich says.
From an early age Fistonich had ambitions to be a winemaker, but his father had other ideas.
Fistonich's parents immigrated to New Zealand in the late 1920s and following Croatian tradition, the eldest son took up a profession and the second son, Fistonich, took up a trade. Fistonich became an apprentice carpenter and joiner.
However, Fistonich knew he did not want to be a builder. In 1961, at age 21, he leased five acres from his father in Mangere, Auckland, where just one acre was planted with vines. He harvested his first grapes in 1962 and made his first wine under the name Villa Maria.
Throughout the 1960s, Villa Maria was a one-man band, with Fistonich's wife, Gail, supporting him in his venture.
He made dry red and white wines, sourcing grapes from the greater Auckland region.
In the early 1970s he started to employ staff and the company expanded rapidly.
Today, Villa Maria has more than 250 permanent staff and exports to more than 50 countries. It has two state-of-the-art facilities in Auckland and Marlborough.
As an innovator in the wine industry, he undertook bold, environment-friendly moves, such as moving to all-screwcap bottles and declaring the winery a "cork-free zone," to protect cork trees.
Being environmentally responsible is a core objective.
"As a family company, the desire to leave something for the next generation is an ever-present and overriding business objective," he says.
"We have long been committed to being environmentally responsible and operating with sustainable practices."
The company has four organic vineyards and Fistonich plans to progressively implement organic practices throughout all the vineyards. Other sustainable practices include heat recovery, night air cooling system, natural lighting, recycling and hybrid vehicles.
Since the early 1980s, Villa Maria has been winning national and international awards.
But Fistonich says that while awards and recognition are great, they have never been his focus.
"These successes come from making quality the focus. If you are determined from the onset that you will not compromise on this, then you will never lose sight of what your purpose is.
"Great wine starts with exceptional vineyards and exceptional people," Fistonich says. "If you have these foundations, you have the best chance of making the best wines."
Since the business is family-owned, the team is very tight-knit. "Our winemakers have the opportunity to express their own flare. We are not restrained by any limitations, unlike a lot of larger wineries around the world."
Fistonich is also keen to nurture talented individuals and has established a winemaking and viticultural cadet scheme within Villa Maria Estate.
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