Villa Maria Estate has taken the title of 'Champion Wine Producer of the Year' for the second consecutive year and landed four of its premium-tier wines on Liquorland's 'Top 100' list for 2009.

The Liquorland Top 100 is a highly competitive international wine tasting commissioned by liquor distributor, Liquorland. The aim of the competition is to determine the 100 best wines available in the New Zealand market, enabling consumers to make an informed decision when purchasing wine.

At the awards dinner held over the weekend, Villa Maria collected four trophies, including: Champion Producer of the Year; Champion Viognier (Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier 2008); Champion Chardonnay (Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2007); and Champion Pinot Noir (Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2007). Villa Maria also won a gold medal and a 'Top 100' placing for the Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot 2007.

Alastair Maling MW, Group Winemaker for Villa Maria commented: "We are incredibly excited about these results, in particular to have been named the country's best wine producer for the second year in succession. It is also the second year running that we have won the Champion Viognier trophy for the same Single Vineyard wine so that really says something about the continuing quality of fruit produced in our Hawkes Bay vineyards.

"While it is fantastic to receive awards for our Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir, it is even more exciting to see our Viognier on the Top 100 list. New Zealanders often aren't adventurous with their wine choices so to have an accolade such as this attributed to our Viognier will hopefully encourage consumers to branch out and try this highly regarded but lesser known aromatic variety," said Maling.

A trophy at the Liquorland Top 100 was just another feather in the cap for Villa Maria's Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2007 which has had a noteworthy run of successes this year. The Chardonnay won Champion Wine of the Show, Champion Chardonnay and a gold medal at the 2009 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards; Reserve Wine of the Show and Bill Irwin Trophy for Best Chardonnay at the 2009 International Chardonnay Challenge; and a 5-Star rating by Australia's top wine magazine, Winestate.

The Liquorland 'Top 100' competition this year attracted more than 1,460 entries from 200 national and international entrants. All wines put before the 21-strong panel of judges were expected to be commercially available in the New Zealand market.

In addition to the trophies, gold medal and Top 100 placings, Villa Maria also scooped six silver medals. Associated brands Vidal, Thornbury and Esk Valley also received gold medals and placings on the Top 100 list.