WINE

The world-wide reputation of the Hunter Valley as a producer of premium quality wines owes much to George Wyndham and especially his son John.

Despite the loss of most vines in 1830 and his initial pressing in 1835 which "promised to make good vinegar" George persevered and later pressings in his first vintage were successful. He subsequently planted a further 38 acres of vines at Dalwood, 12 acres at Fernhill and about 25 acres at Bukkulla, Inverell.

John Wyndham expanded the vineyard to 78 acres by 1886, making it the second largest vineyard in NSW. During the 1860's, 1870's and 1880's his wines won the top awards at Wine Shows in the Hunter Valley, Sydney, Adelaide, London, Paris, Bordeaux, Amsterdam and Calcutta, a century before Australian wines again achieved international recognition.

The Dalwood Vineyard is the oldest continuous commercial vineyard in Australia.

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GRAPE VARIETIES

George Wyndham systematically trialled over 70 different varieties of grapes to establish those which best suited the soil and conditions. The Dalwood Vineyard, now known as Wyndham Estate, is recognized as the Australian 'home' of Shiraz and Semillon (originally called Shepherd's Hardy White and then Hunter River Riesling).

It is now one of the many Australian vineyards controlled by Pernod Ricard.