Robin Akhurst: Robin Akhurst, joined Swanson Vineyards in early 2015 after globetrotting for eight consecutive harvests. Boasting an impressive list of mentors and an even more impressive resume, Robin continues to carry out our commitment to making wines with great nuance and character. A native of Scotland, Robin’s studies took him across the world to New Zealand’s University of Christchurch; then to Burgundy and Australia where he interned with the famed wineries Domaine Leflaive and Two Hands Winery, respectively. Landing in Napa in 2009, Robin has since worked with winemakers Thomas Rivers Brown, Nils Venge, and Mark Carter. With his tenure at Swanson, Robin continues to work closely with consulting winemaker, Chris Phelps.

It is with Robin's mindset that we strive to produce wines with marked elegance and finesse with minimalist winemaking intervention. With careful consideration of varieties of rootstock, clones, spacing and trellis systems, our challenge and endeavour are to ensure that all the potential of our vineyards is captured and reflected in our wines.

Though just 30 miles long and a few miles wide, Napa Valley is home to diverse microclimates and soils uniquely suited to the cultivation of a variety of fine wine grapes. Among the internationally acclaimed wines produced in this small region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. Only 2% of the world enjoys a dry Mediterranean climate. In Napa Valley, this generous climate provides vintage-to-vintage consistency and exceptional quality that few other winegrowing regions can boast. Because of its unique geologic history, Napa Valley has a remarkable diversity of microclimates, weather and geography, as well as some of the most diverse soils found on earth. As a result, an array of premium wine grapes thrives here.

Swanson Vineyards was founded in 1985 by W. Clarke and Elizabeth Swanson and is known for nationally distributing Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon – in addition, Swanson has long been producing limited-production, tiny-batch wines made from intriguing varietals. Newly appointed lead winemaker, Robin Akhurst, joined Swanson Vineyards in early 2015 after globetrotting for eight consecutive harvests. It is with his mindset that we strive to produce wines with marked elegance and finesse with minimalist winemaking intervention.