We’re the makers of modern classics
(aka the best Hawke’s Bay Wines)
Swift Wines are new generation classics — mindfully grown & mindfully made to inspire conversation & connection. We make vibrant, expressive, thought-provoking Hawke’s Bay wines that make life more fun.
(In other words: not your great aunt Jenny’s sauvs)
Someone once described Swift as ‘serious wines for not-so-serious people’ — and we reckon that’s about bang on.
we are…
All about minimal intervention
Our mindful growing approach means our wines are a true representation of where they’ve come from. Capturing this unique sense of place & vintage means doing things by taste, feel and intuition, and being present at every stage of the journey. We know it sounds a little ‘woo’, but honouring the land and following the grapes' cues hasn’t failed us yet.
Forever experimenting
NZ is known for its sauvs, but we prefer the experimental varieties that let us flex our creativity. Inspired by wines we’ve experienced on our travels (as well as wines shared with friends over the years - we love to entertain), we use a mix of old world techniques & modern innovation to create contemporary classics that have a distinct energy. One that dances on the palette…and makes you want to dance too!
True to our values
Creating a sense of connection, community & celebration is a big part of our ethos — it’s why people love wine in the first place. A good vino has the power to bring us together to talk, share stories, make memories and take a moment to enjoy this hectic thing we call life. Every day is a celebration of something, so let’s bring out the good wine.
Meet Lauren & Henry
Husband & wife / business partners / drinking buddies / founders of Swift Wines in hawke’s bay
Crowned the inaugural ‘NZ’s Young Winemaker of the Year’ at just 25, Lauren Swift has spent the majority of her life obsessing over grapes in their various forms. Growing up on an orchard in Marlborough, her first job was learning the fundamentals of grape growing (and picking — there was lots of picking) on a neighbouring vineyard.
A post-school European gap year was the push she needed to get her winemaking career off the ground, returning home to Marlborough for a role at Clos Henri Vineyard (owned by the illustrious Bourgeois family from Sancerre). A Bachelor of Wine Science at Hawke’s Bay’s EIT later, Lauren joined the Ash Ridge team and found herself heading up their brand new winery.
Throw in some more travel, including vintages in California & the Rhone Valley, and the time was finally right to go out on her own.
Lauren persuaded husband Henry to join the team, and together they officially popped the cork on Swift Wines in 2016.
Lauren and Henry didn't have all the answers, but they did have a dream and the determination to make it happen.
They’re big believers in working hard and playing harder.
And that juggling the beautiful chaos of family/business life is much more fun with a wine glass in hand.
Shop our best sellers
All pair beautifully with good food, interesting conversation and/or spontaneous dance parties.
Crisp, voluptuous and balanced — our 2025 Albariño is the wine for summer, or winter!
Description:
This fun new take on Hawke’s Bay Albariño is vibrant, modern and fresh. Think yellow nectarines, white spice, orange blossom, lifted florals & fresh linen on the nose while the palate is textural & full-bodied… with a hint of saltiness and a lick of oyster shell.
Like all Swift vinos, this Albariño is mindfully made using low intervention winemaking practises for maximum expression of place. The grapes were harvested in March 2025, kept on skins for 24 hours to reduce acidity and increase intensity of flavour, then barrel fermented by natural yeast.
The result is an incredibly versatile (and very, very drinkable) wine. One that’s simply begging to be devoured at your next summer soirée.
Details:
Grapes hailing from: Mangatahi Terraces, Hawke’s Bay
Best served: Chilled with sunshine & ocean views
Pairs beautifully with: Salty snacks, freshly caught snapper, roast chook or fresh Asian-inspired dishes (don’t hold back on the coriander)
750ml
12.5% ALC/VOL
7.4 standard drinks
Bubbly, bone-dry and a little bit extra — our 2023 Marceline Sparkling is always the life of the party!
Description
This is a fresh take on Blanc de Blanc, made from 100% hand-picked Chardonnay fruit in Methode Traditionelle style (bottle fermented, individually disgorged, topped-up and re-capped). The nose is full of crunchy green apples, brioche buns and minerals. The palate is medium-bodied, slightly creamy, and singing with punchy citrus, vibrant acidity, and a soft apple note to finish.
A very fun, very refreshing bubbles. Perfect for celebrations big and small.
PS - Marceline is named after one of our sausage dogs. She’s cute, blonde, easily excitable and friends with everyone she meets. She emulates everything we want you to feel drinking this wine!
Details:
Grapes hailing from: Bay View, Hawke’s Bay.
Best served: Chilled - straight from the fridge - in a fancy flute glass.
Pairs beautifully with: Cheese boards & cured meats. Bubbles is a divine apéritif!
750ml
12.5% ALC/VOL
7.4 Standard Drinks
A red served chilled? What a vibe!
Description:
This luscious number turns traditional Gamay on its head — dusty ruby red in colour with aromas of bubble gum, red plum, and a touch of spicy complexity. The palate is bursting with crunchy red fruits & a lovely acid backbone that dances all the way down the throat.
As with all our wines, the Gamay Noir is its own entity (no recipe winemaking going on here!). We respond to the grapes and do what’s needed, always aiming for as little intervention as possible which allows the wine to truly sing with a sense of place.
Details:
Grapes hailing from: Maraekakaho, Hawke’s Bay.
Best served: Designed to enjoy chilled — but it can also be served straight from the bottle. She’s pretty versatile like that.
Pairs beautifully with: Cheese, venison salami or tuna ceviche. It can also stand up to a roast chook or Mexican nachos!
750mL
12.5% ALC/VOL
7.4 Standard Drinks
“Delicious wines from a super talented winemaker. Swift Wines are beautiful, inside and out. Love love love the labels and that each wine reflects Lauren's passion for trying different winemaking styles, for making wines that speak of a time and a place.”
— Sara M
