By chance, an exceptional parcel of Syrah was in need of a home…
instead, it found a garage.
Ollie
The moment struck at a Chateau in Beaujolais. A couple of kiwi backpackers, Ollie and his wife Rebecca exploring France in their battered VW van, parked up for the ‘99 grape harvest. By day hand harvesting grapes and the evenings were spent with other vintage workers tasting wines in the dimly lit Chateau courtyard. Every wine had a story. The vineyards, the growers, the makers, and the crazy seasons past. Ollie knew then that his future was in wine and returned to NZ to study viticulture and winemaking at EIT, Hawkes Bay.
More grape harvests in vineyards and wineries across New Zealand and France ensued.
Ollie took on the role of Chief Viticulturist for Villa Maria Estate in 2007. Mentored by Sir George Fistonich, Ollie lived his dream and at the end of each vintage would bring home a small parcel of grapes to ferment into wine in the garage.
Small batch, handcrafted wines
Lulu Rosé 2026 has arrived !
Lulu rosé is the darling of the New Zealand restaurant trade and adored by wine lovers for its complex and seductive blend of Fresia, Marzemino, Teroldego and Merlot.
Unique in the World of wine, this Italian inspired rosé is carefully pressed and wild fermented in numerous oak aged vessels, with no intervention while aging aside from the occasional barrel stir. The exotic fruit notes, nutty complexity and wonderful balance has to be experienced to be believed.
Wild strawberries, orchard fruits, blood orange and floral aromas, perfectly balanced with a complex and crisp dry palate.
Reviews of the previous 2025 vintage include:
NZ Rosé of the Year 2026 - The Real Review
Stephen Wong - 95 Points
Gary Walsh - 94 Points - "A delight to drink"
Hand harvested Chardonnay from the legendary Lyon’s vineyard in Hawke’s Bay. Planted in 1996 in the stoniest site on the western bank of the Gimblett Gravels. A field blend of Mendoza, Clone 15 and Clone 95 Chardonnay. 12 months in new and seasoned French oak barrels.
Intensely perfumed with summer peach, citrus and lime flower alongside roasted almonds. Medium bodied palate with lovely richness and complexity and notes of peach and vanilla cream.
This concentrated wine has so much potential and will reward cellaring as it relaxes and unfolds.
Stephen Wong MW - 94 Points
Gary Walsh, Wine Front - 94 Points
The HUGO 2024 is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Cornerstone Vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels of Hawke's Bay. This is our flagship oak aged Cabernet Sauvignon is intended for cellaring with optimum drinking likely 10 to 20 years from production.
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Cornerstone Vineyard. Hand plunged during fermentation with 50 days on skins and the 'free run; wine is gravity fed to two new French oak barrels and aged for 12 months.
Aromas of dark, wild berries, crushed autumn leaves, sage and cedar. This characterful wine has intense blackcurrant with an iodine note and crushed stones on the palate. Immense power and long graphite tannins. The quintessential ‘iron fist in a silk glove’.
380 bottles produced.
James Suckling - 93 Points
Jane Skilton MW - 95 Points
