Swift Wines is the (first) baby of Lauren and Henry Swift who create “vibrant, expressive Hawkes Bay wines for everyday celebrations”. They focus on making modern, fun wine with minimal additions - all while juggling their young son and two dachshunds….sounds familiar!
It’s great to find a winery with such a clear philosophy that truly translates into the bottle. The wines I tasted all embraced this ethos in some way – fun, approachable, and made to suit a variety of tastes. These wines are not complicated and they don’t need to be! They are, however, well made, classic and easy drinking. These are the bottles you keep in your fridge, ready to pop open when friends drop over. No wonder the Swifts describe their wines as being “dangerously drinkable”.
Swift Wines produces a wide range of wines from sparkling right through to Cabernet Franc and Syrah with all grapes grown in Hawkes Bay – mainly from the Bridge Pa Triangle and the Mangatahi Terraces. Lauren’s range also includes some of my go-to varieties – Albariño (of course!), Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc (including a 100% Cabernet Franc rosé). It’s exciting to have so many wines to showcase to our customers.
Here’s a sneak peak at some of the wines we will be featuring at the upcoming Swift Wine tasting on Wednesday 2nd April 2025.
Swift Albarino 2023
I’m a total sucker for an Albariño, I think it is one of the most underrated varieties in New Zealand. This one opens with delicate jasmine florals on the nose, leading to bright lemon flavours on the palate with a slight saltiness and soft stone fruit. A great Autumn drop with good texture and weight. Pair it with battered fish tacos or a chicken Caesar salad for the perfect match.
Swift Chardonnay 2021
Zesty lemony flavours jump out of the glass accompanied by subtle apple pie notes and toasted nuttiness. This is an incredibly energetic wine, practically spilling over with vibrancy. A great option for the “Anything but Chardonnay” crew, as the oak take a back seat letting the crisp citrus flavours shine.
Swift Gamay Noir 2023
Bright raspberry in colour, this wines follows through with juicy red fruit on the nose. Think ripe plum jam with subtle smoky, savoury edge. I happened to taste it slightly chilled (not intentional) but it worked beautifully – it could easily be a chilled red option. Loads of bright, bright red fruit with a fresh acidity that keeps it from tipping into Aussie Shiraz territory.
Swift Cabernet Franc 2023
Upfront red fruits aromas -cranberry and blackcurrant – with a hint of green cucumber and fresh mint. A lighter style Cabernet Franc which is refreshing (figuratively and literally) and perfect for these late Summer evenings. I’m a huge fan of the Cabernet Franc and this whimsical take on the variety is a great choice for those prefer a more delicate, less intense red wine.
We will be tasting these wines plus another couple from the range on Wednesday 2nd April. Join us to hear Lauren’s story, sip some great wines and enjoy delicious shared plates from the kitchen.
Head on over to our events page to book a seat for the tasting.