Those of you who enjoy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc most likely have heard of and tried Villa Maria. We've carried their wines for many years, as we have felt that they typically represent New Zealand well, as well as being a varietally correct representation of the grape.

Villa Maria was founded by its current owner in 1961, and grew to the winery that it is today in 2005. This wine is one of the first wines of the 2011 vintage that I've tried. Traditionally, Beaujolais Nouveau has been the first wine of each vintage worldwide, being released for sale on the third Thursday of November.

With the popularity of Southern Hemisphere wines, and the fact that their seasons are opposite ours, the first wines of the vintage have now turned to Sauvignon Blancs from the Southern Hemisphere, which includes New Zealand. We can now try wines from the 2011 vintage well before the release of Beaujolais Nouveau.

According to vintage reports, 2011 was a great vintage for New Zealand wines, particularly Sauvignon Blancs. The weather was great, producing a large quantity of very ripe grapes. Very tropical, and according to one wine writer, "supercharged" in the 2011 vintage, if you're a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc fan, this vintage will not disappoint you!

From the Winemaker: "This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with a fruit-salad-bowl of flavours including ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, fresh citrus lime and exotic herbaceous aromas. The wine has an exciting palate with layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness, finishing with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy acidity. Enjoy this exuberant and delightful wine."

Check out this wine at the special sale price of $9.99 - save even more with our case discounts. We are the lowest price anywhere on either the 2010 or 2011 vintages, so grab this wine and enjoy!

Cheers!

Tracy Maxon

tracy@varmax.com

2011 Villa Maria - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Private Bin

Buy Now: $12.99