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Villa Maria Black Birch vineyard sunrise
  • Patrick Materman Director of WInegrowing

    Patrick Materman

    Director of Winegrowing

    Starting in the wine industry as a Cellar hand in 1990, Patrick worked his way up, accumulating an enormous amount of knowledge and experience across a plethora of roles. As our Director of Winegrowing, Patrick takes responsibility for our winemaking and viticulture strategies, all with the goal of ensuring that we continue to craft wines that showcase the best of New Zealand.

  • Dave Roper

    Global Customer Winemaker

    Dave began his career in wine at Villa Maria in 2002 as a cellar hand. His flair for winemaking was apparent from the outset and having developed his skill and knowledge across all of Villa Maria’s wines, he was promoted to Senior Auckland Winemaker in 2015. During his career he has worked vintages in Oregon and Washington State and has judged at various wine
    shows and competitions in New Zealand over the last 10 years. Dave believes winemaking requires a strong appreciation of art, plus an understanding of science.