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Description
First made to celebrate winemaker Tom Ward’s grandmother Armah Payten on her 90th birthday, Mrs Payten has since become a cornerstone of the Swinging Bridge story - generous, soulful Chardonnay with a clear sense of place.
The fruit comes from three key Orange sites - Hill Park, Caldwell Lane and Coole Park - picked in late February and early March during a warm 2024 season that demanded real vineyard precision. Tom and his team kept things on track with careful trimming and fruit thinning, bringing in pristine Chardonnay with richness and lift.
Fermentation was as thoughtful as the farming: fruit pressed to tank, then racked with solids to French oak (20% new), with a portion put through malo to layer in creaminess. Barrels were stirred sparingly until the right texture emerged, before blending for balance and bottling just before Christmas.
The result is a Chardonnay with all the hallmarks of Orange - crisp acidity, bright stone fruit, a little lemon zest - but also a creamy depth that makes it feel comforting and complete. Think nectarine, citrus, and toasted vanilla on the nose, carrying into a palate that lingers with a biscuity, toasty finish.
It’s a heartfelt tribute, yes, but also a cracking cool-climate Chardonnay that proves Swinging Bridge knows exactly how to marry generosity with precision.
"Superb value and an extremely consistent wine."
- Shanteh Wale (Halliday Wine Companion)
Customer Reviews
| Price Bracket | $30 or Less |
| Type | White |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Variety | Chardonnay |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Orange |
| Australian State | NSW |
| Reviewed By |
Halliday Wine Companion |
| Critic Score |
93 |
| Size | 14 |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
Swinging Bridge Wines
Tom Ward of Swinging Bridge Swinging Bridge
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Common Questions
Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.
Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.
No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.
Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.
We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you.
If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.
Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.
Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.
No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.
No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.
Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.
What that means for you:
- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate
Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.
**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.
If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.
Need a hand?
We’d love to help you out! Email is usually best but if it’s something urgent or you just really want to have a yarn about wine, food, or even the meaning of life, give us a call — we’re here for you.