For a little country, New Zealand produces a lot of wine, enough to rank us 14th on the list of the worlds top wine producers. The country’s 700 vineyards are scattered up and down both islands with the majority falling in one of the eight major growing regions, mostly to the east. Our subtropical, cool weather seems perfect for grape growing.
One of New Zealand’s most celebrated is Villa Maria Vineyards, located on the North Island and quite near the Auckland Airport. We stopped for a quick look around and a tasting on our way to the airport before a weekend trip to Wellington.
I had tried a sample of the light and fruity Villa Maria Pinot Gris at the Auckland Seafood Festival, and it instantly became my favourite wine. So we stopped for a photo tour and were thrilled to watch the first day of grape picking. We even got to sample a few plump, ripe grapes.
Villa Maria Vineyard Cafe
Also on the property is a lovely cafe. It’s a perfect stop on the way to the airport, or just to relax overlooking the vineyard while sipping wine and enjoying lunch. It is one of my favourite restaurants in Auckland.
Practical Information and Tips on Visiting Villa Maria Vineyard
- Villa Maria Vineyard is at 118 Montgomerie Rd, Mangere, only 3.4 km from Auckland Airport.
- It opens daily at 9 am, closing at 6 pm on weekdays and 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
- Villa Maria is New Zealand’s most awarded winery for over 30 years.
- It has been awarded the New Zealand Wine Company of the Year at least 15 times in the past 20 years
Tour an Auckland Winery
Villa Maria is one of several wineries in the Auckland area. Viator offers several wine tour options including visits and tastings, although it appears only one of the tour options includes Villa Maria. Check out other winery tour options below:
→ Check pricing and availability on Auckland Wine Tours from Viator
Where is your favourite wine growing region? Have you tried any of the award-winning Villa Maria wins?
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Disclaimer: Villa Maria marketing provided us with a basic tour. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Theme Park Fun: Enjoying Rainbow’s End in Auckland
Eric
We haven’t been to New Zealand since 2009 and at that time we really weren’t into wine like we are now. Knowing there is a winery so close to Auckland Airport is making me think it’s time to go back. I’m a huge #AvGeek and would love to visit Villa Maria, do a wine tasting and watch the planes go by. Time to start planning.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
We love visiting wineries especially when the grapes are out. This looks like a great one to visit. We didn’t get to visit wineries when we were in Auckland but did bring some wineries home including kiwi wines. Beautiful photos!
Margherita
OOOHHH I love wineries! But I must say, this looks really special because in all the winery tours I’ve done, I’ve never visited the actual vineyard and seen grapes hanging off the vines. Looks lovely!
Barbara Radisavljevic
All my neighbors are vineyards and wineries, and I am always walking through them, photographing them, and writing about them. I think vineyards are some of the most beautiful places on earth. That’s why i say wine country is God’s country. I only wished I liked wine.
Jennifer
I have to look for and try Villa Maria Pinot Gris. I love wine but have little knowledge about them
Stephanie
That looks a great place to visit and you wouldn’t know it was so close to the airport. We did a self guided walk in France once which took us through some vineyards, although I’m sure we got lost just because we were so busy looking at how the grapes were growing! 🙂 #wkendtravelinspiration
Corinne
Rhonda, I’ve discovered some of the country’s I would never think of as wine producers have some of the best wine! Yay! Weekend Travel Inspiration team!
Julie K Pick
What a beautiful vineyard! It’s neat how they protected the grapes from the birds.
Rhonda Albom
We do the same with our own fruit trees. I hadn’t realized it was a New Zealand thing.
Doreen McGettigan
That winery looks pretty big. Your photos are lovely. On the east coast of the United States we have plenty of small wineries. Some of the wines are okay but honestly they are not that good. California has many wineries, a beautiful area and some of those wines are pretty good.
Rhonda Albom
I used to live in San Francisco, so I am quite aware of the growing region. For now, the light Pinot Gris at Villa Maria is my personal favorite.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda .. beautiful shots and I know you’ve got excellent wine regions .. I often have a bottle of NZ .. I hope one day to go to a NZ lunch with wine .. and then I can write about it .. I’d love to visit one day – I will! Cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I have noticed that you conviction about coming to New Zealand someday keeps growing stronger.
Crystal
Lovely photos. Visiting vineyards is always a fun experience.
Indah Nuria Savitri
such a great place you have there..we visited several while we were staying in Geneve..it was lovely 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I agree, Villa Maria is a beautiful place, hard to believe it is surrounded by industry and so close to the airport.
Alicia
I love vineyards! Fortunately, were I live there are a few small ones an hour or so away in Virginia and the wine is pretty good too, though nothing compared to those in New Zealand. Great post and good luck with the rest of the A to Z!!
Alicia @ http://www.prolixme.wordpress.com
Amy
oooh why did you mention a seafood festival? yum 🙂
Eli
That was fun to read- remembered my dodgy past stepping grapes in italy and greece. Hahaaa. Great pictures:-)
Faye North
We took a wonderful river cruise through Burgundy (and Provence) where we visited a winery in the Maconnais. In Italy we dined at a vineyard in Tuscany and toured a winery near Lake Iseo where they produce Franciacorta sparkling wine. One of my favourite activities while traveling through Europe!
Comedy Plus
We’re not that far from wine country. Napa is a great place to explore all this and more. Such great fun. Hubby and I have visited many wineries and vineyards in our local wine country.
Have a fabulous day. 🙂
Betty
We have visited a lot of vineyards and wineries 🙂 Having lived in California where there are several areas of “wine countries” we got to see and taste a variety of them. That is interesting how they cover the grapes there; I’m not sure they do that here which makes me wonder about the birds. Could be interesting to ask. Now since we are in Arizona, we are visiting wine tasting rooms for different Arizona wineries. Most of the grapes seem to be grown south of us in Tucson (maybe because the weather being better for them?) so we haven’t seen a vineyward yet, but are enjoying the wines.
betty
Alex J. Cavanaugh
My wife and I enjoy visiting wineries. I’ve never seen vines covered before though.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
We have a many vineyards in Essex County as well as there are many on Ontario. Many are near Niagara Falls area. Since my stroke years ago, I have been unable to partake of the enjoyment of drinking of the wine and everything. Oh well. Others can enjoy the vino.
Have a sweet Saturday Rhonda. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Elen @ Elen G
@Paul – I used to live in Essex County. Small world! And later the Niagara Region, which has so many boutique wineries. We grow some good wine. 😀
@Rhonda – I’m not sure I’ve had any wine from New Zealand. I’ll have to rectify that.
stevebethere
Nice post and quite interesting photos, sadly due to meds I take I cannot drink alcohol but I used to love wine I must say my moth is watering reading your post haha!
Have a vinetastic weekend and enjoy your wine 🙂
Judi
We visit a winery in northern Vermont, Boyden Valley Winery. Not an area that usually is conducive to growing grapes until about 20 years ago as the climate has been changing. The wine is excellent and we always grab a bottle and cheese plate to enjoy on the grounds when we are in Vermont, then buy a case to take home! – visiting from the A-Z challenge -http://50andfabulousblog.blogspot.com
[email protected] Travelling Lindfields
We were recently in the Hunter Valley, near Sydney. It is a significant wine area. We saw lots of vines covered with netting. I couldn’t understand why some vines were covered and some weren’t. Now I know why. Thank you.