Winemaker, The

Winemaker, The is a biography of New Zealand's most awarded wine-industry leader. Over the last 15 years, the New Zealand industry has increasingly globalised, as international corporates take a dominant role in wine production. Villa Maria has always fiercely guarded its independence as New Zealand's largest privately-owned wine company. This independence can be traced back to 1961 when a young George Fistonich told his Croatian-immigrant father that he wanted to give up building and take over the family winery.

In the 50 years since, he has transformed a cottage business making fairly average table and fortified wines into a widely admired company. Villa Maria now produces some of the country's very best wines, for which it has won a multitude of local and international awards. The company boasts considerable landholdings, is a major exporter, an energetic sponsor, and maintains an innovative culture.

George Fistonich has won prestigious accolades such as the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. He was knighted and, in 2011, was honoured with one of the international wine industry's leading awards.

This book traces the arc of his life, from his hard-working Mangere childhood to his self-taught marketing audacity. It describes his struggles to save the beloved business from receivership and his determination to take big bets on the future. What emerges is the portrait of a determined, savvy, and visionary man, whose life in wine mirrors the history of the modern New Zealand wine industry.

The book features a tribute by celebrated UK wine writer Oz Clarke. It won third place in the 'wine history' category of the 2012 Gourmand Awards.