From family tradition to uncharted territory

Lying awake at 2am, Tom came up with the idea for a wine that blended Pinot Noir with Tempranillo – an unusual combination called ‘Tempinot’ that’s proved popular. Fiercely passionate about what he does, wine is rarely far from his mind.

Born and raised near Orange, Tom is the fifth generation Ward to be working the land. His family has been farming in the area since the 1860s.

“My favourite memory is working with my father,” says Tom. “Not many people have that opportunity, but I was lucky to work with my father for over 20 years.”

After working in vineyards around the world and studying winemaking, Tom returned to the family business, moving with his wife Georgie and two kids to a vineyard in Orange. In 2009, he made his first wines under the Swinging Bridge label.

Tom takes a no-compromise approach to winemaking that starts in the vineyard – the place where he’s “most comfortable”. His acclaimed wines include elegant, refined classics like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and unconventional drops as part of his Hashtag range.

“Our experimental series is all about having fun and experimenting,” says Tom. “It’s also about continuing to evolve. That’s a great thing about Australian wine – we’re always looking to try new things, but we’re also not afraid to learn from the past.”

Whether he’s thinking up offbeat wines in the middle of the night or tirelessly tending the vines, there’s nowhere else Tom would rather be.

“We’re looking to be a multigenerational business,” says Tom. “We hope to continue innovating. We want to contribute to the long-term success of Orange. Most of all, Swinging Bridge hopefully means I’ll never have to retire. This is what I love. This is what I do.”