Queen of Swords 2024 is Ashleigh Barrowman’s Chardonnay at its most poised and self‑assured. A wine that balances finesse with a little edge. Sourced from organically farmed Wairarapa fruit and fermented wild, it’s all about bright citrus, white peach, flinty tension, and a fine, savoury line of oak that never overplays its hand. The palate is sleek and energetic, with a mineral drive that keeps everything humming. It’s elegant, modern, and quietly powerful.
The kind of Chardonnay that wins people over not with volume, but with clarity and intent

Ashleigh Barrowman is one of the most exciting young voices in New Zealand wine, crafting small‑batch, site‑driven bottles that lean into precision, texture, and a kind of quiet intensity. Working primarily with organically farmed fruit from Martinborough and the Wairarapa, she champions minimal‑intervention winemaking. Wild ferments, gentle handling, and a focus on purity over polish. Her wines have a signature: they’re thoughtful without being fussy, expressive without being loud, and always anchored in a deep respect for place. The brand feels modern, artisanal, and quietly rebellious, with each release showing a winemaker who knows exactly what she wants to say in the glass