Villa Maria’s Fairhall Winery Marks 25 Years in Marlborough Wine Industry
Villa Maria’s Fairhall Winery in Marlborough celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, having been opened in 2000 by then-Prime Minister Helen Clark.
“It is a pretty special collection,” says Ormond Nurseries General Manager Marcus Wickham.
In 2020 the company purchased Vineyard Plants Ltd, which was the original nursery for Villa Maria, including the original clones, varieties and rootstocks previously only available to Villa.
“No land or equipment came with that purchase, only selections that were previously unavailable to the wider industry,” Marcus says. “Hand-selected by a very successful winemaking and viticulture team and proven over time, the ONL Heirloom series includes top performing clones that have been chosen for their unique flavour and qualities, vigour and performance.”
The range includes Chardonnay ONL Monte, Chardonnay ONL Mendoza, and Sauvignon Blanc ONL 101.
“We are adding to this series other Sauvignon Blanc clones and some new imports that we have identified, collected, and would like to share to the wider New Zealand wine industry.”
