Villa Maria are still the country's most-esteemed wine brand, with the Auckland winery recognised for their stellar efforts for a fourth year running.

Villa Maria is a name synonymous with New Zealand wine.

Whether you've paid a visit to their Auckland winery to see your favourite Kiwi band live, sampled their beautiful Private Bin Pinot Noir over dinner, or enjoyed a crisp glass of Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Rosé alongside your favourite summer meal – chances are, you have a favourite Villa moment.

It will come as little surprise then, to learn that Villa Maria have been recognised for their stellar winemaking efforts for a fourth year running, with the Auckland winery officially listed as the highest-ranking New Zealand winery in this year’s “World’s Most Admired Wine Brands” list.

For a young winemaking nation like New Zealand, recognition such as this is "incredibly powerful" for the New Zealand wine and the New Zealand export sector, said Sir George Fistonich, founder and president of Villa Maria Estate.

“Being named as the most admired wine brand in New Zealand four years in a row, is testament to the level of quality our wines consistently deliver and shows we exceed in all the award criteria," he said.

"It’s such an amazing recognition for Villa Maria and I’m incredibly proud that we continue to rate the highest New Zealand winery on this most prestigious of lists.”

To learn more about the award-winning Villa Maria wines, visit their website here.