Tom Ward has been at the helm of Swinging Bridge Wines for 20 years in the wine making region of Orange where cool clime varieties rule. 

He grew up having a close affinity with the earth in Canowindra, a central west town in NSW where his family has been farming since 1867.  Swinging Bridge – the label is a nod to the iconic wooden bridge that straddles the local Belubula River – originally grew commercial grapes, but Ward has since steered the company into another direction, producing carefully crafted vines designed more for quality than quantity.

Ward acquired his degree in Commerce from the University of Sydney and went on to hone his skills in the wine trade with a degree in Oenology from Charles Sturt University.  Since then, he has steadily built a solid profile in the wine industry, becoming president of the NSW Wine Industry Association.  He is still current president of the Orange Regional Vignerons Association. 

Here are the list of awards Swinging Bridge Wines took home at the Orange Wine Show which was announced on 29 September 2022:

Best Red Wine of the Show:
2021 Caldwell Lane Pinot Noir
Best Exhibitor of the Show:
Swinging Bridge Wines
Wine of Provenance:
Lane Block A Chardonnay
Best Older Chardonnay:
2017 Hill Park Chardonnay
Best Pinot Noir:
2021 Caldwell Lane Pinot Noir
Best Shiraz:
2021 Shiraz
Cellar Door of the Year:
Swinging Bridge Wines

For those of you who are after an excellent drop and a delicious weekend away in scenic Orange, make sure to stop by Swinging Bridge to sample some of Ward’s award-winning wines.  You can also check out their website here to plan your stay around one of their upcoming events.

From the community of St John’s College, we congratulate Tom Ward on his well-deserved success.