Sparkling wine, explained with real passion. This Printhie private experience pairs a masterclass with vineyard insights, then finishes with a wine-matched meal and serious tasting time, including older bottlings. If you like your fizz with details, this is a fun 3.5-hour plan.

I love the personal attention you get on a private group tour, and I love that the tasting goes beyond young fruit and bubbles into aged Swift Sparkling. One possible drawback: it’s weather-dependent, so plan to be flexible if conditions cancel and you need to reschedule.

Quick highlights

• Private attention on a tour limited to your group
• Masterclass teaching from a Printhie Sparkling Specialist, sometimes David Swift of Swift Wines
• Over-a-decade tastings from the Swift Sparkling range
• Vineyard viewing near the Cellar Door for a practical sense of place
• 4-course lunch with matching wines at Printhie Dining
• Valley views while you eat and sip, no drink-and-drive stress

Printhie’s Swift Sparkling: why the awards matter

Printhie’s Swift Sparkling isn’t presented as a gimmick. It’s presented as something they’ve earned, repeatedly. The wine has won Best Sparkling at the NSW Wine awards from 2018 through 2023, plus Best Australian Sparkling at the 2022 Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships in London.

For you, that matters because it signals consistency. You’re not paying just for a pretty cellar door story; you’re paying to understand a style that judges keep rewarding. And since the session focuses on the traditional method, you get a framework for what to notice in the glass.

Another reason I like this setup: it’s not just tasting for tasting’s sake. You learn how the wine gets made, then you taste it in a way that connects craft to flavour.

Your private masterclass at Printhie Wines

The experience starts at Printhie Wines Cellar Door at 208 Nancarrow Ln, Nashdale NSW 2800. The whole tour runs about 3 hours 30 minutes, and you’ll use a mobile ticket. The key point is that this is a private tour/activity, so it’s only your group.

You’ll be hosted by a Printhie Sparkling Specialist. The information says it could be the winemaker or a member of the Swift family, and one masterclass has been led by David Swift, owner of Swift wines. That’s a big deal for how the experience feels: you’re hearing sparkling wine explanations from people close to the decisions, not from someone reading a script.

What you’re learning is the traditional method process—how you go from base wine to the next steps of making sparkling. The session also points you toward the disgorging and aging process, which is where quality often shows up in the glass. Even if you’re not a chemistry person, you can still pick up the idea: time and technique work together.

Then the tasting portion gets specific. You taste from the Swift Sparkling range, including sparklings that are over a decade old. That older tasting is one of the best ways to understand what traditional method ageing actually does. It stops you thinking of sparkling as only fresh and fruity.

The vineyard story: seeing where the wine starts

After the craft explanation, you get guided insight into the vineyards used to create the range. These vineyard areas are located just outside the Cellar Door, so you don’t have to pack and travel all over the region to feel the geography.

I like this approach because it keeps the experience focused. You’re not rushing between distant spots; you’re seeing how the vineyard setting relates to the final sparkling style. Cool climate craftsmanship is mentioned as the foundation of the Swift Sparkling range, and that lines up with what you’ll be taught to expect in the wine.

Even if you’ve toured vineyards before, don’t treat this as a quick photo stop. Use it as a chance to connect sensory notes to plant and site factors. Ask your specialist what they’re looking for and how the vineyards support the final blend and style.

Aged Swift Sparkling tastings: what to look for

Most sparkling tours start with youth. This one gives you older bottles as part of the tasting, including wines over a decade old. That changes how you taste, because you stop relying only on bright fruit cues.

Here are a few practical ways to use the guided tasting:

• Notice how the bubbles feel and how the wine’s texture changes with age.
• Pay attention to how flavours shift from fruit-forward to more developed notes.
• Look for how acidity still plays a role even when the wine has matured.
• Compare styles within the Swift Sparkling range so you learn what stays consistent.

Your specialist will talk you through what’s happening through the process, from base wine handling through the disgorging and aging steps. When you connect those steps to what you’re tasting, you get a clearer mental map. You’ll likely leave with a better sense of what traditional method ageing actually costs the winemaker in time and decisions—and what it gives back.

And since the tasting is private, you can ask questions without the usual pressure of a larger group queue. If you’re the type who likes to understand why, this is the part to lean into.

Printhie Dining: the wine-matched 4-course lunch with views

After the tasting, you move to Printhie Dining for a set lunch with wine matching. You’ll enjoy the commanding views over the valley below while you eat, which makes the break feel like more than just time filler between sips.

The meal is described as a four-course lunch designed to match the wines. That matching piece is where the dining section becomes practical for you, not just pleasant. It teaches you how different sparkling bottles work with different food profiles—something you can reuse at restaurants later.

A good wine match isn’t just about saying yes, this tastes good. It’s about balance: how the acidity supports food, how ageing affects texture, and how the wine’s style responds to richness, salt, and flavour intensity. If you’ve ever been confused by pairings that sound theoretical, this meal should help make it tangible.

Also, it’s a clever “no drink and drive” setup. You’re enjoying the wine on-site with a scheduled flow, so you can relax and taste at your pace.

Price and value: what $276.14 buys you for 3.5 hours

The price is $276.14 per person for around 3 hours 30 minutes. On paper, that’s not cheap. But here’s what you’re actually paying for: a private sparkling masterclass with guided tastings, including aged bottlings, plus a wine-matched multi-course lunch.

In value terms, you’re getting three costly things bundled:

1) Wine expertise time with a specialist host

2) Premium tasting pours, including over-a-decade samples

3) A proper sit-down meal with matched wines at a dining venue with valley views

If you’ve ever tried to recreate this with a rental car, separate tours, and then buying your own tastings, the cost tends to creep up fast. You also lose the educational flow—here, the teaching and tasting are built to support each other.

The other value angle: the awards. Since the Swift Sparkling range has been recognised across multiple years and at major competitions, you’re not buying into a one-off novelty. You’re buying into a consistent craft story.

Who this tour suits best, and who should think twice

This is a great fit for wine lovers who want more than a basic intro. You’ll enjoy it most if you like learning how sparkling is made, not just sampling it.

It’s also a strong choice for couples or friends. The private group format keeps it conversational, and the pace works for people who want a relaxed day without a long bus ride. If your group includes someone who gets overwhelmed by menus and wine notes, the specialist explanations can be a real confidence boost.

Think twice if you dislike structured tastings or you want total spontaneity. This experience runs as a guided sequence: tasting, explanation, then dining. Also, since it requires good weather, you should be comfortable rescheduling if needed.

Should you book this sparkling masterclass?

I’d book it if you want a well-taught sparkling experience with a real payoff in the glass. The two strongest reasons are the aged tastings—sparklings over a decade old—and the private guidance from a Printhie Sparkling Specialist (with David Swift as one of the possible hosts).

You should probably skip it only if you’re mainly after a casual drink-and-stroll day. This is craft-focused, and the value comes from the masterclass plus the wine-matched lunch, not from random wandering.

If your idea of a great outing is learning something you can actually use later, this one fits.

FAQ

How long is the Sparkling Masterclass with Vineyard Tour and 4 Course Lunch?

It lasts about 3 hours 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Printhie Wines Cellar Door, 208 Nancarrow Ln, Nashdale NSW 2800.

Is this experience private?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group will participate.

What’s included in the experience?

You’ll get a vineyard and masterclass session with Swift Sparkling tastings, followed by a four-course lunch with matching wines.

Who hosts the masterclass?

A Printhie Sparkling Specialist hosts it, and it may be the winemaker or a member of the Swift family. David Swift has hosted masterclasses.

Do you taste older sparkling wines?

Yes. The tasting includes Swift Sparkling sparklings that are over a decade old.

Is the lunch paired with wine?

Yes. The four-course lunch is designed to be matched with the wines you’re tasting.

Do you need good weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.

Is there a free cancellation option?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.

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