Robin Akhurst Appointed Winemaker, Chris Phelps Transitions to Winemaker Emeritus
Oakville, Calif.—Swanson Vineyards has named Robin Akhurst to the role of winemaker. Chris Phelps, director of winemaking for 12 years, will remain with the winery, transitioning to a half-time consulting role as winemaker emeritus.
Akhurst will lead day-to-day winemaking, forming a trio with Assistant Winemaker Tony Herrera, who has been with the winery for 11 years, and Phelps. Akhurst will work intimately with the Swanson vineyard team led by Pam Bond and with Phelps, who will be involved in key winemaking activities and enhance focus on grower vineyards.
Proprietor Clarke Swanson says Akhurst’s arrival strengthens the winemaking and winegrowing teams providing even greater focus on the Swanson’s portfolio of winery-only and nationally distributed wines, its Oakville Estate vineyards and its long-term grower vineyard partners.
In 2009, Akhurst came to the Napa Valley to work with Thomas Rivers Brown and the team at Outpost Wines. Under Brown’s guidance, he learned to craft iconic wines including Schrader Cellars, Maybach and Rivers Marie. Following harvest, Robin became winemaker at Envy Wines, a winery and custom-crush project established by partners Nils Venge and Mark Carter. For four years, Robin crafted the Envy wines and worked alongside Mike Smith as assistant winemaker for Carter Cellars.
Originally from Scotland, Akhurst has international cellar experience in New Zealand, France and Australia. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, Akhurst worked as a sommelier in one of Edinburgh’s most progressive restaurants, moved to London to work at a specialty wine merchant and then pursued winemaking, earning a degree in viticulture and enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. He worked harvests in Languedoc-Roussillon and at Burgundy’s famed Domaine Leflaive. From there, he moved to Australia’s Barossa Valley to work with Two Hands Winery before moving to the Napa Valley.
About Swanson Vineyards
Clarke and Elizabeth Swanson founded Swanson Vineyards thirty years ago when they purchased more than 100 acres in the heart of Oakville, Napa Valley in 1985. In 2000, Swanson conceived the first luxury wine tasting salon, an intimate setting paired with delicacies such as caviar and dark chocolate, putting wine into the context of everyday enjoyment. Swanson Vineyards, recognized as one of Napa Valley’s finest Merlot producers, also produces Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the US market, along with many small-lot winery and club only wines.
