A hard grape to grow and make well, Merlot performs to the highest standard in only a handful of viticultural regions around the globe. One of those regions is Hawke’s Bay where it excels in our moderate climate, when grown with care and respect on the right soil types.

Food Pairing
This Merlot is well matched to game and red meats, cured meats and other savoury, robustly flavoured dishes.

Alcohol level
14.5%

Product History
Our pioneering winemaker, Tom McDonald (1907 - 1987) dramatically elevated the quality of winemaking in Hawke's Bay. His lifelong dedication to crafting fine wines helped establish the superb reputation that the region and Church Road are known for. Church Road honours Tom's legacy with an unwavering commitment to pushing the quality boundaries of Hawke's Bay winemaking.

Vineyard History
Church Road embraces Old World winemaking with one arm and technological advancements with the other. And it all begins with fruit grown in Hawke's Bay. Church Road Winery, renowned for being the first in New Zealand to craft exceptional quality Bordeaux style red wine, pioneered the creation of the Hawke’s Bay wine industry. Church Road wines are crafted using the most exceptional quality fruit from vineyards across Hawke’s Bay, together with traditional winemaking techniques to create highly acclaimed award-winning wines.

Tasting note
A deep red in colour, from the glass there are lifted aromas reminiscent of roses, cedar, sandalwood and warm spice, while the oak delivers underlying dark chocolate and savoury notes. The heart of this wine is its dense, brooding plum and dark berry fruit. The palate is rich, weighty and long driven by a firm yet fine-grained tannin structure.