Waiheke wine wins AirNZ gold wine award

Soho Revolver Merlot Blend 2014 from Waiheke Island has claimed a gold medal at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

A Waiheke wine has claimed a gold medal at this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

SOHO Revolver Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2014 was the only wine from the Auckland region to claim gold out of 84 nationwide winners.

Amber Hatton from SOHO wines said the company was thrilled with the result.

"2014 was another stellar vintage on Waiheke. It was definitely a group effort; from the hard work by the team out on our Waiheke Jomara vineyard to maintain it all year round, through to James Rowan, our Waiheke winemaker, carefully crafting this blend made of five varietals with the input of the SOHO team."

Created by award winning winemaker James Rowan the wine is described by Sam Kim from wineorbit.co.nz as 'impressively fruited and beautifully styled'.

"The perfumed bouquet shows complex aromas of cassis, dark plum, floral and clove with classic cigar box complexity, " Kim said.

Trophy winning wines and winners of the elite gold medals will be revealed at a black tie dinner in Nelson on 28 November.

New Zealand's top winemakers and industry professionals will attend the event.

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards celebrate excellence in New Zealand winemaking and are widely considered to be the country's most prestigious wine competition.