The outdoor view from ‘Printhie Wines’ overlooking their vineyards
As the Champagne Goddess, my recent visit to Printhie Wines was a delightful experience. Nestled in the picturesque Orange region of NSW, Printhie Wines showcases the art of winemaking, and their sparkling wine range ‘Swift’ left a lasting impression on me.
I arrived alone, intending to meet friends later in the afternoon. I can’t deny I knew I wanted Emily and Ed Swift to myself, before sharing them with others!
Upon arrival, I was cheerfully greeted by Emily Swift, the extremely busy Head of Marketing and Director of the family’s small business, which includes the elegant degustation restaurant: Printhie Dining.
Emily generously set me up at their tasting counter overlooking the vines. She calmly outlined their elegant range of sparkling wines, and once confident I was experiencing a truly high-quality experience, she left me to make my own notes on each wine. She flagged down Ed Swift, owner and co-winemaker, as he strolled through the vines right in front of the cellar door. Fresh from the vines, where he had been tasting the grapes, he joined me at the counter, and his passion for winemaking was clear.
Owners of Printhie Wines, Ed and Emily Swift standing in their elegant cellar door.
We delved into the exciting details of each wine. We chatted for more than an hour – which in the busy life of a vigneron, is a long time. I was touched. He spoke about the passion their chief winemaker Drew Tuckwell brings to his role, the particularities of each vineyard and how much sunshine/frost/rain each varietal receives in each area of that Mt Canobolas volcanic soil; and we delved into the intricate process of creating each of their incredible sparkling wines. It was a privilege to witness his commitment to excellence firsthand.
Printhie Wines is a family-run business that values its community. Their cellar door employs local residents and the awarded degustation menu celebrates the exceptional regional produce. Their sense of community and dedication to local craftsmanship is evident in every aspect of their operation. Emily and her daughters are passionate about the game of Netball, so it certainly makes sense that Printhie Wines sponsors the Sydney Netball team ‘The Swifts‘.
For those looking to enjoy a memorable experience, I recommend Printhie Dining’s degustation experience. Four delectable courses, with (or without) matching wines, it is a truly special destination for a special celebration, (don’t forget Mother’s Day is coming-up!) or perhaps even a romantic weekend away. And if you drop in for the cellar-door tasting, avail-yourself of fresh oysters, straight from their innovative oyster tank. Printhie’s Swift sparklings offer a wonderful journey through the world of sparkling wines.
Here are some of my notes for each of the Swift Sparkling Wines I tasted:
🥂 Swift NV Cuvée
This elegant sparkling wine is predominantly Chardonnay, with a touch of Pinot Noir and reserve wines. With significantly long lees aging of approximately 96 months, I was surprised at the richness and complexity in a non-vintage. The low dosage really allows the purity and expression of the wine to shine through.
🥂 Swift NV Rosé
A beautiful sparkling rosé made from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This wine is vibrant and fresh, with delicate notes of red berries and a crisp finish. I made a note that it pairs wonderfully with Middle Eastern flavours!
🥂 Swift Blanc de Noirs 2019
This unique sparkling wine uses only Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes (the ‘black grapes’ of the three varietals used in classical champagne and sparkling wine production). This blend has been inspired by notable grower producers from the Montagne de Reims area in Champagne. It offers a rich and full-bodied profile, with intricate flavours and a lingering finish. Ed Swift mentioned that he and Kate Laurie, chief winemaker at one of my other favourite Australian Sparkling wine houses: Deviation Road, Longwood, Adelaide Hills, share a wonderful tête-à-tête comparing their Blanc de Noirs!
🥂 Swift Blanc de Blancs 2012 – Late Disgorged
The flagship of the Swift range, this Blanc de Blancs is made exclusively from Chardonnay. It stands out for its purity of fruit and complexity, having spent an impressive 11 years on lees, recently disgorged (and another six months resting after disgorgement). The Swift 2011 Blanc de Blancs was crowned Best Australian Sparkling at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships in London 2022 – so snap one –or half a dozen– up, tout de suite, if you can!
Bottles of the Swift sparkling wine range available at Printhie Wines, Orange NSW.
For more on the Swift sparkling wine story visit their website “Printhie Wines”