Villa Maria Estate founder recognized as World Class innovator in Kea Awards

Sir George Fistonich, owner and founder of Villa Maria Estate, has been honoured with a World Class New Zealand Award. He was among seven of the country’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators to receive an award in the annual event run by Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

The awards recognise New Zealanders who have made a significant contribution to the profile and development of New Zealand on the world stage. Sir George’s award was in the Manufacturing, Design & Innovation category.

Sir George was humbled to be chosen for the award and honoured to be among such esteemed award recipients, “I am grateful to have been selected for this award. The success of New Zealand business on the global stage is something I am very passionate about. A bottle of Villa Maria wine on tables around the world is not just there to be quaffed and forgotten. When we make our wine, we make it to be enjoyed so that people the world over recognise it’s yet another good thing to come from New Zealand,” he said.

This award follows the recent announcement that Sir George was inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame at the 2011 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards.

Attached photo depicts Murray Bain from the Ministry of Science and Innovation ( left ) with Sir George Fistonich.