The winemaker : George Fistonich and the Villa Maria story /
Kerry R. Tyack.
- 368 pages : illustrations (chiefly colour) ; 24 cm
Includes bibliographical references (page 360) and index.
Prelude -- 1. A land of promise -- 2. A Mangere upbringing -- 3. The winemaker -- 4. The family business -- 5. Succession -- 6. Thinking bigger -- 7. Taking it to the next level -- 8. Critical mass -- 9. Snowdroppers and sylvaner -- 10. Market research -- 11. Australia, Asia and beyond -- 12. A body blow -- 13. Stability returns -- 14. Expansion -- 15. The boss -- 16. Off to the Awatere -- 17. Industry leader -- 18. The future -- 19. A milestone -- Appendices. Appendices (A selection of wine awards ; Villa Maria and sponsorship ; Chief and senior Villa Maria winemakers ; Long-time employees of the Villa Maria family.
"Over the past 15 years, the New Zealand industry has increasingly globalised, as international corporates take dominant role in its wine production. But Villa Maria has always fiercely guarded its independence as a family company. That independence can be tracked back to the day in 1961 when young George Fistonich told his Croatian immigrant father that he wanted to quit his job as a builder and take over the tiny family winery. In the 50 years since, he has turned a cottage business into a widely admired company that produces some of New Zealand's very best wines, for which it has won a multitude of local and international awards." -- Back cover.