Oyster Bay
Hawke’s Bay Merlot
A bold new world of flavour.
Bright cherry aromas and rich plum with subtle spice and a soft lingering texture.
Recently awarded a Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
We had to go out of our way to find the best place to grow Merlot. In the Hawke’s Bay we discovered perfection. New Zealand’s warmest grape growing region. From its abundant, clear sunlight and ancient soils comes a Merlot that excites the senses with its fragrance, softness and elegant fruit intensity.
Aged in French oak barriques to impart complexity, the heroes in our Oyster Bay Merlot are always freshness of ripe fruit, spice and soft tannins on the palate. A wonderful Merlot perfectly crafted to accompany any special moment.
As a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, we have always recognized nature as the true producer of our wines.
Awards and Accolades
Technical Information
Winemaking Techniques
2020 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION, USA - 2019 OYSTER BAY MERLOT
San Francisco International Wine Competition is one of the oldest, largest - and most influential wine competitions in the world.
2020 WINE ENTHUSIAST, USA - 2018 OYSTER BAY MERLOT - TOP 100 BEST BUYS FOR 2020
Wine Enthusiast Magazine is an indispensable guide to the latest wine trends, ratings and reviews.
2020 Sydney International Wine Competition, Australia - 2018 OYSTER BAY MERLOT
Sydney International Wine Competition is one of Australia's longest-running wine events with wine finalists judged in wine style categories alongside food of similar palate weight.
2014 San Francisco International Wine Competition, USA - 2013 OYSTER BAY MERLOT
San Francisco International Wine Competition is one of the oldest, largest - and most influential wine competitions in the world.
2013 Natalie MacLean, Canada - 2013 OYSTER BAY MERLOT
Natalie MacLean is Canada’s most quoted wine writer and was named the World’s Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.
The Hawke’s Bay wine region is arguably the most exciting find in recent times for the cultivation of Merlot in New Zealand. Ancient alluvial river terraces provide for a superb mix of soils over gravelly, free-draining subsoils, with an abundance of pure river water or irrigation.
With a temperate maritime climate, the vines are warmed by strong clear sunlight during the day and cooled at night by the sea breezes of the Pacific Ocean.
This is the unique environment in which Merlot produces its vibrant, fully-ripened varietal flavours. Essentially, Oyster Bay Merlot is about elegance and intensity of fruit. The hero of this red wine is always freshness of ripe fruit, spice and soft tannins on the palate.
Our winemaking philosophy is to capture the special character of New Zealand’s cool climate viticulture – to consistently produce distinctly regional wines that are elegant and assertive with glorious fruit flavours.
The flavours we love so much are there from the moment we pick the grapes. They come from the unique cool climate and ancient soils where our vines grow and we work hard, using a science and a love of the land to create remarkable flavours in every bunch.
We call these elegant and assertive wines with glorious fruit flavours.
Uniquely New Zealand, undeniably Oyster Bay.
