The Fistonich Story
Family winemakers since 1949
Every family has a story. Ours has been more than seventy-five years in the making.
The Fistonich family wine story began in New Zealand in 1949, when Croatian immigrants Andrija and Mandica Fistonich began making wine to share with family, friends and the local community. At the time, locally made wine was not widely available. For many Croatian families, wine was part of everyday life, shared around the table with food, conversation and community.
What began as a small family tradition would grow into one of New Zealand’s great family winemaking stories.
Built on family
The Fistonich story has always been about more than just wine. It is a story of courage, hard work, generosity and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Andrija worked long hours as a watchman at a local factory, providing for his family while tending the small family vineyard whenever time allowed.
Mandica, Andrija's wife, was the heart of the home, the keeper of the family, the vines and Croatian traditions. She raised their children, tended the vineyard and created a place where family, friends and neighbours were always welcome.
In 1949, the family was granted its first licence to sell wine in New Zealand, the beginning of a winemaking story that continues today.
Together, they built more than a vineyard. They built a foundation of family, generosity and hard work, instilling values that would guide the generations to follow.
George Fistonich
Their son, George Fistonich, grew up surrounded by vines, family and the belief that good wine was meant to be shared. At twenty-one, George established Villa Maria in 1961. A year later he crafted his first commercial vintage.
What began as a small family winery would become one of New Zealand’s most respected and internationally recognised wine companies.
Together with his wife Gail, who supported him throughout the journey, George built Villa Maria while remaining true to the values on which it was founded.
Shaping New Zealand Wine
His identity as part of an immigrant family helped shape a spirit of determination, tenacity and good humour. Hard work, high standards, foresight and progress became principles he carried throughout his career.
Over the following decades, George helped reshape New Zealand wine. He championed quality, invested in Hawke’s Bay, believed in the potential of the Gimblett Gravels, became a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, was the first to lead a commercial winery to make the move to screwcaps and mentored generations of winemakers and wine professionals.
He also ensured others could benefit from the foundations he had built, giving back through cadetships, mentoring and leadership within the next generation of wine and hospitality professionals.
George did not simply build Villa Maria. He helped build the modern New Zealand wine industry.
In 2009, George Fistonich was knighted for services to the industry, becoming Sir George Fistonich.
A new chapter
A name synonymous with leadership in wine, Sir George has a history of success but has always operated with an eye on the future.
Following the sale of Villa Maria in 2021, many assumed Sir George’s winemaking journey had reached its conclusion. They were mistaken.
At eighty-four, Sir George founded Čuvar Winery as the next chapter in the Fistonich family’s winemaking story.
He founded Čuvar to help preserve the essence of what makes New Zealand fine wine so special, while nurturing an industry culture that is progressive, regenerative and diverse.
When asked why he would begin again after everything he had already achieved, his answer was simple.
“For the love of great wine.”
Hawke's Bay
OUR HOME
Although the Fistonich family has made wine across New Zealand for decades, Hawke’s Bay has long held a special place in the family’s story.
The family has owned its historic Bay View winery, formerly home to Esk Valley Winery, since the 1980s. Nearby, Cornerstone Vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels has produced fruit for many of Sir George’s finest wines over the years and remains one of the family’s most important vineyard sites.
When Sir George founded Čuvar Winery, Hawke’s Bay became the natural home for the family’s next chapter, bringing together a historic winery, exceptional vineyards and more than seventy-five years of family winemaking.
Čuvar
Čuvar (pronounced chu-var) means guardian in Croatian.
Čuvar pays homage to the Croatian wine pioneers, and to the many others who helped shape New Zealand's wine story. Our name acknowledges those early guardians who
worked so hard to build the industry, while reflecting our responsibility as custodians today and our commitment to leave a stronger legacy for future generations.
For the Fistonich family, guardianship means caring for the land, honouring those who came before, championing New Zealand wine and crafting wines that can be shared with
pride.
The Čuvar Iris
The iris, Croatia's national flower, stands for hope, wisdom, trust and valour. Its heart, shown in our logo, reflects our commitment to circular principles and the guardianship of
people, planet and holistic prosperity.
The Story Continues
Today, Čuvar Winery is led by Karen Fistonich, Sir George’s daughter, who has worked alongside the family wine business for almost three decades.
As Managing Director, Karen carries forward the values established by her grandparents, built upon by her father and now expressed through Čuvar Winery.
From Hawke’s Bay, we proudly craft contemporary classic New Zealand wines from exceptional vineyards, honouring more than seventy-five years of family winemaking while looking confidently to the future.
Family winemakers since 1949
Our Vineyards
We carefully choose vineyards where we know nature can do its best work, then we trust the seasons to shape the unique distinction of each vintage.
EXPLORE THE VINEYARDS
Our Team
We’ve gathered a team who believe that boundaries are there to be pushed. We’re united in our love of New Zealand fine wine, but also in our goal of making it even better.
MEET THE TEAMFOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@cuvarwinery
