George Fistonich - visionary winemaker - the remarkable story of a remarkable man

The Winemaker

Author: Kerry Tyack

RRP: $45.00

Random House

One of New Zealand’s most visionary winemakers celebrates his 50th vintage with his personal story in a handsome, highly illustrated and fascinating book.
The story begins in 1926 when a young Croatian named Andrija Fistonich stepped off a ship onto the Auckland wharves after three months at sea.
It is a remarkable story about a remarkable man, a man who took Villa Maria from a five acre paddock in Mangere to a hugely admired,endlessly decorated wine company on the international stage.

Marlborough, Hawkes Bay, Auckland …. In these three major wine regions the impact of Villa Maria is impossible to miss. From the state-of-the-art wineries in Auckland and Marlborough, to vineyards and wineries in Hawkes Bay, Villa Maria’s founder and owne George Fistonich has  stamped his mark on New Zealand’s wine landscape in a remarkable manner over the last fifty years.

It’s hard to credit now, looking at the multitude of New Zealand and international awards, the export success and the personal awards for Sir George Fistonich, that Villa Maria had the humblest of beginnings in a small outbuilding behind the Fistonich family property in Mangere, Auckland.

Taking over the lease of five acres from his father at the age of twenty-one, George started off with just an acre of vines in 1961, marking the founding of Villa Maria Estate. It is thanks to George’s innovative drive and relentless pursuit of premium quality that this 100% New Zealand and family owned business is now recognised as a global player in the wine industry.

This totally engaging 320-page book shows that not only does George Fistonich have great instinct when it comes to wine, he has also a talent for picking great people.

‘In our lives we are lucky if we have someone who gives us a break, who inspires us and who becomes a mentor,’ says former employee Rebecca Poynter, who now manages a well-known wine company in the Hunter Valley. ‘George has been that to me. But I am not alone. Scratch the surface of so many wineries and wine businesses, not only in New Zealand but also much further afield, and you will trip over a winemaker, viticulturist, marketer or sales person all of whom got a start at Villa Maria or who have worked there at some point in their career.’

Highly innovative, Villa Maria has often been ahead of the game:

• initiating New Zealand’s first grower bonus system, which rewarded growers for quality instead of quantity

• establishing  separate public companies to buy and own vineyards to provide Villa Maria with a consistent supply of grapes. The Bookman worked closely with Sir George as a board member for a decade with Terra Vitae Vineyards Ltd. including a two year spell as Chairman.

I learned a great deal about the NZ wine industry over that time. It was a challenging and rewarding experience with GF maintaining a keen interest at all times in this new company which developed vineyards in Marlborough and Hawkes Bay. I continue to be a shareholder and follow the company's progress with interest.

• creating one of the most innovative and successful national marketing campaigns the New Zealand wine industry has ever experienced

• controversially becoming the first major winery in the world to bottle all of their wines with screwcap closures

• having far-reaching environmental objectives

The Winemaker is the portrait of a determined, savvy and visionary man, whose long life in wine also tracks the history of the modern New Zealand wine industry. It will be of interest to wine lovers everywhere as well as business folk, entrepreneurs and many others both inside and outside the New Zealand wine industry. I read it from cover to cover in two days, couldn't put it down.

About the author:
Kerry Tyack is a experienced  wine and beer writer, and restaurant-awards convenor and judge. He was the perfect choice to write this biography and he has done a splendid job.
He lives at Muriwai, west of Auckland.

Footnote:

The Winemaker is published as a trade paperback available from booksellers everywhere but Villa Maria also have for sale at their Mangere winery a limited number of a hardback edition at $55 which of course The Bookman purchased! A wonderful addition to my small library of wine books.

And for another view here is Andrew Stone in the New Zealand Herald  20 October 2012 (love the headline):

Ups and downs of the vintner's luck

NZH photo by Richard Robinson