Stormwood's Meritage is a Bordeaux-style blend from a single vineyard on Waiheke Island's Owhanake Peninsula, planted back in 1992. Expect black doris plum and cassis with vanilla spice and savoury depth, wrapped in soft, ripe tannin. It's a rich, opulent red for someone who wants a serious Waiheke blend without the price tag of the island's best-known names.
Waiheke's Bordeaux-style reds are what put the island on the map internationally, and Stormwood is a newer name doing serious work in that style. Rather than farming their own single estate, winemakers Heinrich Storm and Michael Wood hand-pick from vineyards they know well across the island, choosing the best parcels each vintage.
This is a proper dinner wine rather than something to open on a whim - it has the weight and structure for a Sunday roast or a night when you want a glass that holds its own against real food. Stormwood's wines sit at a genuinely fair price for what's a hand-picked, single-vineyard Bordeaux blend from one of Waiheke's better-known planting sites.
What it tastes like
Black doris plum and cassis lead, with vanilla spice from the oak running through the middle. There's real savoury depth underneath the fruit, adding complexity rather than sitting on top of it. The palate is rich, soft and opulent, with ripe tannins that give it structure without any hard edges. It's a generous style of Bordeaux blend, built for pleasure rather than austerity.
"Meritage" is the American-coined term for a Bordeaux-style blend made outside Bordeaux itself, built from the same handful of classic grapes - here, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Style at a glance
- Body: Full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Balanced, not the main feature
- Tannin: Ripe and soft, not austere
- Oak: Seasoned French oak, 12 months, adding vanilla spice rather than new-oak toast
- Style: Rich, plummy, opulent Waiheke Bordeaux blend
Food
This wants a proper Sunday roast: lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic, a beef and red wine casserole, or venison with juniper. A mushroom and thyme risotto works if you want something meat-free, and it's worth trying alongside a wedge of aged Gouda. Duck breast with plum sauce is an easy match too, echoing the wine's own fruit.
Who makes it
Stormwood is a collaboration between Heinrich Storm and Michael Wood, two winemakers who've worked together on Waiheke Island for more than a decade and have over 30 years of combined experience on the island between them. Storm, South African-born, has worked at Goldie Estate since 2008. Wood previously worked at Obsidian Vineyards, was named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year in 2017, and also makes the wine at Te Rere and Eventide. Rather than farming a single estate of their own, the pair source and hand-pick from single vineyards across the island, choosing the best parcels for each vintage - the Meritage comes from a block on the Owhanake Peninsula planted in 1992, one of the earliest red-blend plantings on Waiheke, growing in sandy clay soils within a natural amphitheatre fanned by afternoon sea breezes.
When to drink it
Most Waiheke Island Bordeaux blends reward 5 to 15 years in the cellar, and Stormwood hasn't published a specific window for the 2023. It already shows the soft, ripe tannin of a wine that's approachable now, with plenty of structure to reward those who want to wait.
Technical details
| Winery |
Stormwood |
| Wine |
Waiheke Island Meritage |
| Vintage |
2023 |
| Variety |
38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 22% Petit Verdot, 18% Cabernet Franc |
| Vineyard |
Single vineyard, Owhanake Peninsula, Waiheke Island (planted 1992) |
| Region |
Waiheke Island |
| Country |
New Zealand |
| Fermentation |
Open-top fermenters, twice-daily plunging, extended maceration |
| Oak |
Seasoned (not new) French oak, 12 months |
| Serving temperature |
Best served slightly below room temperature, around 16-18°C |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage 2023 is available via our winenz.com website. For delivery in New Zealand you can purchase from thewineryonline.co.nz. If you are visiting New Zealand, you can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine.
Questions we are often asked
What does Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage taste like?
Black doris plum and cassis, with vanilla spice and a savoury depth underneath. It's a rich, full-bodied, dry Waiheke red blend with soft, ripe tannin rather than a hard, austere structure.
What grapes are in Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage?
A Bordeaux-style blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 22% Petit Verdot and 18% Cabernet Franc, from a single vineyard on Waiheke's Owhanake Peninsula planted in 1992.
How long will Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage 2023 keep?
Most Waiheke Island Bordeaux blends reward 5 to 15 years in the cellar. Stormwood hasn't published a specific window for the 2023, but it already drinks well now with plenty of structure to reward patience.
What food goes with Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage?
A proper Sunday roast: lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic, a beef and red wine casserole, or venison with juniper. A mushroom and thyme risotto works as a meat-free match.
Who makes Stormwood wine?
Winemakers Heinrich Storm and Michael Wood, who've worked together on Waiheke Island for more than a decade. Rather than farming their own estate, they hand-pick from single vineyards they know well across the island each vintage.
Where can I buy Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage 2023?
The Winery ships Stormwood Waiheke Island Meritage 2023 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. It is also available in our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores.
