Villa Maria’s new chief winemaker

Villa Maria’s new chief winemaker

Hawke’s Bay winemaker Nick Picone has been appointed chief winemaker for the Villa Maria Group, with chief executive Sir George Fistonich describing the 37-year-old as a “shining star” of the New Zealand wine industry. Picone said he was proud to take on the role and agreed it was a long way from when he started pursuing a grape and wine certificate at the EIT back in 1996 – where after one month he knew he wanted to be a winemaker rather than a viticulturist.
“It’s a bit daunting but it is really exciting,” he said. “I’ve been with Villa Maria for 18 years and with the experience I had in the regions I’ve worked in, and knowing the great teams of people we have, I realised I was in a position to accept the responsibility.”

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