LAST month’s NZ International Wine Show was a standout for Villa Maria with four champion awards and 14 gold medals. The winery took trophies for Champion Producer of the show, Champion Wine of the show, Champion Chardonnay and Champion Winemaker (Nick Picone). The top performing wine was its Single Vineyard Taylor’s Pass Marlborough chardonnay. The company also took out the Champion SavBlanc trophy and three gold medals from its Vidal Estate operation.