Latest news with #VillaMaria
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Weekend wine guide: Villa Maria's stellar Cellar Selection
The Cellar Selection offers a magnetic combination of quality and value. Photo / Getty Images Michael Cooper has 45 wine books and several literary awards to his credit. In the 2004 New Year Honours, Michael was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. With their familiar gold labels, Villa Maria's widely available, mid-priced Cellar Selection wines have for decades offered a magnetic combination of quality and value. The company's ownership changed nearly four years ago, and 2022 and 2023 were both tricky vintages in Hawke's Bay. Are the wines still delivering great value? Priced above Villa Maria's Private Bin range, which despite the name is made in huge volumes, and below the top-tier Reserve and Single Vineyard wines, the Cellar Selection white wines retail in the $16-$20 range and the reds at slightly more than $20. At those prices, they are well worth buying. Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Gris 2024 ★★★★ Bargain-priced, this vigorous, slightly off-dry wine was grown in the Awatere Valley. Full-bodied, it has generous peach and pear flavours, slightly spicy notes and fresh acidity, with a sliver of sweetness that gives easy-drinking charm. Already drinking well, it should be at its best mid-2026+. (13.5% alc/vol) $16-$20 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2023 ★★★½ From a wet growing season, this full-bodied, smooth wine was fermented and lees-aged in stainless steel tanks and oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, with a slightly creamy bouquet, it is dry, with lively, peachy, gently toasty flavours, woven with fresh acidity and considerable complexity. (13.5% alc/vol) $16-$20 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2024 ★★★★ This bright, pale pink wine is fresh, light-bodied and very lively, with delicate strawberry and watermelon flavours, crisp and basically dry. Full of youthful drive, it's currently delicious. (12.5% alc/vol) $16-$20 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke's Bay Syrah 2022 ★★★★ This youthful, graceful red delivers good value. Full-coloured, it is a fragrant medium-to-full-bodied wine with very good depth of vibrant plum and black pepper flavours, a distinct touch of complexity and a smooth, harmonious, lingering finish. (12.5% alc/vol) $20-$22 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir 2023 ★★★½ Priced right, this ruby-hued red was aged in French oak barriques. Mouthfilling and supple, it is still youthful, with fresh, lively cherry, plum and spice flavours, savoury notes adding complexity and very good depth, vigour and harmony. (13.5% alc/vol) $22-$26 Wine of the week: Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ★★★★ This great-value, strongly varietal wine was fermented and lees-aged in tanks. Bright, light lemon/green, it is highly aromatic, vibrant and tangy. Balancing ripe, passionfruit-like flavours with green capsicum-evoking notes, it shows very good vigour and intensity. (12.5% alc/vol) $16-$20
Graziadaily
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Win The Perfect Picnic With Villa Maria – The Wine We'll All Be Sipping This Summer
The UK's No.1 New Zealand wine brand now comes in a convenient can. And a gorgeous can it is too - the aesthetic is as on-point as the wine itself. The fact that best-selling Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc from Villa Maria is now available in a new 200ml can is going to revolutionise summer as we know it. So, grab a blanket, fill a hamper with gourmet goodies, and get the gang together, because this summer we are picnicking in style. The beach, the park, the impromptu barbecue the neighbours just decided to host - you can now take your favourite wine with you without having to lug a heavy bottle. While a beautiful bottle of Villa Maria is perhaps best for dinner parties and gifting, nothing is more convenient than being able to pop a can or two of your favourite wine into the cool box and get on the go. Is there anything as lovely as a wine with a view? Imagine enjoying a delicious tipple in the sunshine pretty much wherever you please. Perfect for picnics and summer soirées or enjoying at home without opening a full bottle, the 200ml can offers the same award-winning wine Villa Maria is known for in a sleek new format. Simply pop a can open and enjoy – it is the taste of summer; light, refreshing and joyful. Villa Maria's Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc in a can captures the vibrant, zesty flavours of Marlborough in a lightweight, portable can that's easy to chill and even easier to enjoy. Its compact design makes it a great choice for when you want quality wine in smaller servings without compromising on taste. Those times when you just fancy a simple glass of wine. For over 60 years Villa Maria has been known for creating bold, iconic New Zealand wines, and now we can enjoy a sip of refreshing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, anytime, anywhere. Canned locally in the UK to ensure the ultimate freshness, you are still guaranteed the same exceptional quality of the Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc you know and love. To celebrate, here's your chance to win everything you need for the perfect picnic with Villa Maria. Enter below and one lucky winner will receive a case (12 x 200ml cans) of Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, a Field Bar portable thermal drinks box and a set of branded Villa Maria picnic tumblers. Five runners-up will win a case (12 x 200ml cans) of Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc too. 200ml Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc is now available from Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco RRP £3.75.
Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Times
The 10 best wines to buy at Waitrose this summer
With a clutch of masters of wine among its buying team, Waitrose is the supermarket that can genuinely give independent wine merchants a run for their money. Its Loved & Found range offers lesser-known grape varieties and is peppered with esoteric choices at attractive prices. Waitrose Cellar has an exceptional selection of fine wines. 2023 Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir New Zealand (13%) £13Villa Maria is prized for its excellence and consistency. Its pinot is a joy, marrying tart cranberry and raspberry flavours with an uplifting finish. 2024 Alphonse Mellot Le Manoir Sancerre France (13%) £27A stunning sancerre that has a golden hue in the glass and catches the attention with its lively acidity, delicate aromas and purity of fruit. NV Fowles
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Two light wines for chilled summer bites
Two lighter, summery wines from SuperValu this week. Villa Maria is part of one of the largest producers in New Zealand , making consistently good wines at every price level, including the Marlborough Sauvignon. The Cuvée Dissenay comes from the Languedoc in south France. The cooler parts of this region are proving a great place to produce well-priced wine from the Burgundian pinot noir grape. If you are a fan of rosé wine, SuperValu also has the lightly fruity, refreshing La Petite Perrière Rosé and an old favourite, the lightly sparkling medium-dry Mateus Rosé, both for €8 a bottle. Villa Maria Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Villa Maria Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 12.5%, €10 from SuperValu Fresh kiwi and mango fruits with plenty of lively acidity to refresh. This would be a great sipping wine or served with Asian seafood and chicken dishes. READ MORE Cuvée Dissenay Pinot Noir IGP Pays d'Oc Cuvée Dissenay Pinot Noir IGP Pays d'Oc 3%, €10 from SuperValu Light and juicy with red cherry and raspberry fruits. Serve very lightly chilled with salmon, tuna, seared duck or medium-firm cheeses.
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- General
- Business Mayor
I tried 40 tinned drinks: here are my favourite canned cocktails, wines and seltzers for sunny days
T here is so much to love about a drink in a tin. Cans can be quickly and easily chilled, with their contents staying fresh; they're widely recyclable, compact, lightweight and portable; there's no fear of cans smashing into smithereens; you don't require any gadgets to open them – and they vastly improve any journey or gathering. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. If you're heading to the park for alfresco socialising, no longer are your beverage options limited to just a four-pack of lager or a can of Diet Coke. From craft beers and wine to G&Ts, cocktails and an array of soft drinks, choice isn't an issue. The problem is sorting the wheat from the chaff. Whether it's overpriced craft beers or the plethora of sub-par passionfruit martinis, fridges are holding their fair share of poor-quality tinnies. So, to save you from drinking sad cans in the park, I've rounded up a selection of the best. When the sun comes out, all you need to do is pack some cans and go. To compile this list, I tested about 40 different drinks in tins, spanning achingly sweet ready-to-drink cocktails, too-funky kombuchas, super-healthy waters and dangerously drinkable seltzers. This list is far from exhaustive, but for now, there should be something for everyone to enjoy. The best tinned cocktails, wines and pre-mixed drinks Best hard seltzer: Stefanoff black cherry hard seltzer £1.09 for 330ml at Aldi (in-store only) You can't move for hard seltzers these days. The clean, crisp carbonated waters spiked with vodka and fruity flavours have struck gold with gen Z and millennials looking for a lighter option. Compared with beer, wine and many premixed cocktails, hard seltzers are low-calorie, low-sugar and often lower in alcohol, while also being naturally gluten-free. I rate this Aldi black cherry version, which is cheaper than the market leader, White Claw, and is just 106 calories per can. Bursting with flavour for bargain summer fun. Best white wine: Villa Maria sauvignon blanc £3.60 for 200ml at Sainsbury's £3.75 200ml at Morrisons After-work picky bits in the park call for a reliable favourite to quaff alongside your hummus, olives and posh crisps – and you can't get much more reliable than a Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Happily, Villa Maria – NZ's most award-winning brand of wine – has begun canning its tropical-tasting white just in time for the warmer weather. This crowd-pleasing grassy sauvignon blanc with powerful notes of passionfruit and lime zest is an excellent accompaniment to the sun. Best kombucha: Hip Pop strawberry and pineapple kombucha £17.99 for 12 x 330ml at Hip Pop Long summer days are better when they're less hazy, so keep a clear head with this Great Taste Award-winning kombucha, which brings all the positives of fermented fizz – live cultures, real fruit, low calorie – but none of the nasties. So, no unpleasant funk here, or an overt tea character, just lightly sparkling jammy strawberry and pineapple juices with a healthy dose of gut-friendly Bacillus coagulans and some natural cane sugar for sweetness. It's tasty, so you won't feel like you're missing out if you're skipping alcohol, and the can looks pretty cool. Best nectar: Gosnells raspberry hibiscus nectar £32.50 for 12 x 330ml at Gosnells Is it a beer? Is it a cider? No, it's mead – the ancient alcohol made using fermented honey, which Peckham-based B Corp brewery Gosnells has rebranded as 'nectar' to bring it bang up to date. This nectar tastes kind of like a tart berry fruit cider but fresher and purer because of the lack of artificial ingredients, while the signature Hazy Nectar is more in the orchard fruit cider sphere. It's gluten-free, 110 calories a can, with a 4% volume of alcohol, and each sale benefits the Bumblebee Conservation Trust – a nice touch to thank the bees for the honey. Best cocktail: Wonderland Cocktail Co watermelon margarita £3.90 for 125ml at BrewDog £3.90 for 125ml at Sainsbury's Ready-to-drink tinnies have come a long way, with it now possible for you to pick up bar-quality cocktails in a can from the supermarket. Some readers may choose to avoid BrewDog for the negative associations with its co-founder; but in terms of its drinks, the brand's spirits are now being used to make 12 top-notch canned cocktails. My favourite is the bar-strength watermelon margarita. Made using BrewDog's Casa Rayos blanco tequila, watermelon, lime juice and salt, this 14% cocktail is canned heaven. I also like that the can is purposely oversized, leaving space to shake the cocktail before drinking for a superior serve. Best CBD drink: Intune elderflower and hops sparkling CBD drink £6.25 for 4 x 250ml at Ocado £18.75 for 12 x 250ml variety pack at Amazon skip past newsletter promotion Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Founder Hannah Glasson discovered the benefits of CBD during her breast cancer treatment, and with her background in the drinks industry, she was keen to create a health drink that challenged perceptions. Intune is the Great Taste Award-winning result, with 10mg of CBD a can. Made using natural botanicals with vibrant flavours, Intune's CBD drinks could help ease anxiety, aid relaxation and focus, and are just great to chill in the park with. Alcohol-free, the elderflower & hops is my favourite, but all four fruity flavours are refreshingly tasty. Best red wine: Nice malbec £2.60 for 187ml at Sainsbury's £28.20 for 12 x 187ml at Amazon As with the white wine on this list, I don't believe a canned product is where you start to experiment or get creative. Whether it's for the train, an after-work picnic, or to take along to an outdoor movie screening, you want a wine that does what it says on the tin. For that, you can't beat a Nice malbec for those deep Argentinian velvety fruit flavours. This is a smooth, no-nonsense pick that can be enjoyed on its own, or with food – barbecue and cheeseboard, anyone? Plus, it's a B Corp, so a great pick on many levels. Best functional water: Jamu Wild Water sparkling lemon £20.99 for 12 x 250ml at Amazon £26.18 for 12 x 250ml at Welzo One of the biggest health trends to emerge last year was the boom in functional drinks. From kombucha to CBD, beverages are increasingly being fortified with healthy additions, such as mushrooms, prebiotics and vitamins. This Jamu Wild Water is among the best I've tried; it tastes delicious and includes gut and immune health benefits. The sparkling raspberry is juicy and is just the right level of sweet, with chicory root providing 5g of prebiotic fibre, plus a decent amount of vit C and zinc per can – all for just 18 calories. The blood orange option tastes great, too. Pack it for a day at the beach, or hydration on the hop. Best innovative can: Guinness Draught Nitrosurge cans £8.75 for 4 x 558ml at Waitrose £29.99 for 10 x 558ml at Amazon Nitrosurge device £30 at Amazon £30 at Tesco Guinness is one of the UK's favourite pub beers, but let's be honest, it hits differently in a can – in a bad way. Even when poured into a glass, it lacks the sitting, the ceremony and the pump of a pub pint. Not so with Nitrosurge. This USB-charged nozzle can be affixed to a chilled can to ensure it pours a slower, smoother pint from a 45-degree angle. It's creamier, has a more admirable swirl in the pour, and may even taste better. It could be my imagination, but I appreciate the ritual for improved pints in the park. Best sparkling wine: La Gioiosa Rosea fizz £3.50 for 200ml at Waitrose La Gioiosa is among the leading and most reliable brands of prosecco, so to have one of its drinks – although notably, not prosecco – now in a convenient can is good news for party-going fans of a fizzy rose. This Italian sparkling wine is dry, fruity and floral, with plenty of prosecco-esque flavours: apples and light berries abound. It's perfect for an aperitif or for enjoying with charcuterie, and at a fairly relaxed 10.5%, it's very quaffable. Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London's best bars and restaurants, she's also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance READ SOURCE businessmayor April 30, 2025
