Swinging Bridge Vigneron Nominated for Halliday’s Viticulturist of the Year
We’re thrilled to share that Swinging Bridge Vigneron, Tom Ward, has been nominated for Viticulturist of the Year in the upcoming 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
The nomination recognises Tom’s passion and commitment to innovation, which defines his viticultural approach. It also celebrates his ongoing dedication to crafting premium, cool climate wines at our Hill Park Vineyard in Orange, NSW.
Speaking on the nomination, Tom said:
“Living and working at Hill Park for the better part of a decade, I’m intimately aware of the effects our farming practices have on the vineyard. Over the last 10 years, we’ve experienced crippling droughts, terrible bushfires and torrential, flooding rains. I’ve learnt a lot about viticulture and this property over that time, adjusting techniques and approaches that have proven to be beneficial in practice.”
“Just as important, I’ve raised my family and built a business that I’m proud to lead, and would like to see grow and succeed in their stead long after I’m gone. I recognise the need for innovation, embracing organics, sustainable farming, and cutting-edge technology to ensure we can continue producing exceptional cool-climate wines for generations to come.”
In Good Company
Each year, The Halliday Wine Companion pinpoint the best Australian wines, winemakers and wineries from a pool of several thousand featured in the annual Companion guide. With categories that include Wine of the Year, Winemaker of the Year and Viticulturist of the Year, James and his Tasting Team pick the high performers from a range of criteria to offer a true representation of the nation’s greatest names in wine.
Previous recipients of this prestigious award include Vanya Cullen (Cullen Wines, 2022), Tom Carson (Serrat, 2023), Mark Walpole (Fighting Gulley Road, 2024) and Bart Molony (Vasse Felix, 2025).
This nomination accompanies Tom being named Vigneron of the Year at the 2024 Orange Wine Show for his efforts at our premier Hill Park Vineyard. His dedicated, hands-on approach in improving fruit quality by prioritising soil health, leveraging emerging data and research as well as grafting and replanting varietals better suited to the conditions has driven the vineyard’s success.
The winner will be announced at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards on August 20, 2025.
Wines That Speak for Themselves
Want to try the Swinging Bridge range for yourself? You can explore our full range of award-winning, cool climate wines here. Better yet, plan a visit to our Cellar Door in Orange and indulge in one of our luxury Wine Experiences.
