Villa Maria One of the World’s Most Admired Brands

Villa Maria has been named one of the top four most-admired brands in the world by influential trade journal Drinks International magazine.

Drinks International ranked Villa Maria behind only Torres and Vega Sicilia of Spain, which ranked first and second, and Australia’s Penfolds, which ranked third.

More than 200 of the world’s top masters of wine, sommeliers, educators and journalists took part in the annual poll, which pits wine brands from all regions, styles and qualities against each other.

Drinks International writes: “The still privately-owned brand is undoubtedly doing something right as it has catapulted back into the Most Admired list after a two-year hiatus.”

Villa Maria was founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich, who is still the sole owner and managing director.

It has been recently announced that Villa Maria will be the sole wine supplier to Air New Zealand’s economy and economy premium range.

Original article by Drinks International, April 3, 2015.