Kiwi Flight

George Fistonich does not fly out of New Zealand on a whim. The 70-year-old, who is behind the Villa Maria winery that is hailed as one of the 50 greatest wineries of the world by Wine Spectator, travels only to those countries where his wine is sold. Fistonich, therefore, had a reason to visit India: the New Zealand high commissioner was celebrating one year of Villa Maria wines in the country. 8220;I am glad the wines are doing well here,8221; says Fistonich, who set up the Villa Maria wine estate in Marlborough in 1961 and earned recognition with his very first vintage 1962. There are only five wines in India 8212; the Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Riesling 2007, Seddon Pinot Gris 2006, and Villa Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 8212; but the Kiwi says he does not believe in flooding the market. 8220;We do not want to create a confusion in the consumer8217;s mind by putting too many wines in the market. First, we want to study the response,8221; he says over a glass of red.