Dave Swift
TAKING OFF
At the helm of a growing wine brand in a young and fast-evolving region, Dave Swift is headed for a bright future.
There’s a new generation of passionate growers and makers taking the cool-climate Orange wine region to the next level. A second-generation wine producer, Dave sees exciting potential for Orange and for his family’s boutique winery, Printhie. Overseeing the family vineyards and the business side of things, Dave’s passionate about playing his part in the rise of Orange.
A world of possibilities
It was early days for the Orange wine region when Dave’s parents, Jim and Ruth, planted vines on the farming property they’d bought about 20 years before. It was the mid-1990s and the emerging wine community was just ramping up.
Dave and his older brother Ed, who had both grown up on the property, joined the family business in the early 2000s and built a winery soon after. Today, they’re at the helm of this acclaimed wine label.
“I think Orange is at the start of a pretty amazing journey,” says Dave. “There’s a younger group of us that are fairly optimistic about where the opportunity here is. There’s no doubting that it’s going to be in wine tourism. It really feels like it’s about to take off.”
The Printhie team are on the cusp of opening a new cellar door and restaurant, closer to the Orange CBD, and are experimenting with grape varieties as they plant out a new vineyard. Made by long-time winemaker Drew Tuckwell, Printhie’s award-winning wines are fresh and bright, reflecting the region’s cool climate and altitude. And since 2013, Printhie has been making waves with its Swift sparkling range.
“We can’t replicate Champagne, we can’t replicate Tasmania or Adelaide Hills, but we can show that Orange has the same quality markers as those regions, but in a different profile,” says Dave. “Our Swift sparkling wines are unique wines of a quality that matches Australia’s top sparkling regions.”
As the Orange wine region continues to develop, Dave and the team at Printhie are evolving with it.
“We’re getting to a point where we feel comfortable enough to push the boundaries and embrace change,” says Dave. “We make wines of quality and we’re willing to step outside the box and have some fun with it.”
“I think the Orange wine region is at the start of a pretty amazing journey. It really feels like it’s about to take off.” – Dave Swift
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