Wyndham Estate – Australia’s Oldest Winery
By Doug Singer
The Australian wine industry is the fourth-largest exporter in the world, exporting over 400 million liters a year to large international export markets that include "old world" wine-producing countries such as France, Italy and Spain.
Vine cuttings from the Cape of Good Hope were brought to the penal colony of New South Wales by Governor Phillip on the First Fleet in 1788. An attempt at wine making from these first vines failed, but with perseverance, other settlers managed to successfully cultivate vines for winemaking and Australian made wine became available for sale domestically by the 1820’s. In 1833 James Busby returned from France and Spain with a serious selection of grape varieties including the most classic French grapes and a good selection of grapes for fortified wine production. The quality and production techniques of Australian wine was significantly improved by the arrival of free settlers from various parts of Europe, who used their skills and knowledge to establish some of Australia's premier wine regions.
Wyndham Estate, as Australia’s oldest continually operating winery, holds a special place in winemaking history. In 1828, U.K. immigrant George Wyndham first planted vines at the historic Dalwood property on the banks of the Hunter River. Several years later, Dalwood Wines, as it was then known, released its first vintage to rave reviews. By the mid-1800s, Wyndham presided over the second largest vineyard in the colony, exporting wines as far away as India and England. To honor George Wyndham’s contribution to Australia's heritage, the original winery, Dalwood House, was deemed a national treasure and Dalwood Wines was renamed Wyndham Estate in 1970, one hundred years after George Wyndham's death.
A history of impressive showings by Wyndham’s wines at international competitions has proven Australia’s superior winemaking abilities. In 1882, Dalwood Wines was awarded the coveted Gold Medal for ‘Best Australian Wine’ at the Bordeaux International. An Australian first was achieved by Wyndham Estate in 1988 when its wines won 26 medals at the prestigious Intervin International and the winery earned the number one ranking.
Wyndham Estate has a very large range of wines being produced. For the purpose of this article, I decided to zero in on what I feel they are best known for, their Shiraz range. I was interested in exploring the highly acclaimed 2005 vintage.
The 2005 Bin 555 Shiraz ($10.00) is an ideal selection for everyday enjoyment. It won a top blue/gold medal at the Sydney International Wine Competition where wines are judged with food. It’s rich and complex in its flavors and easy on the palate with hints of plum, licorice and blackberry. With a gentle balance of tannins, it is well paired with red meats and cheeses.
The award winning 2005 George Wyndham Shiraz ($18.00), with dark cherry and bright purple hues is easy on the eyes as well as the palate. This is their flagship red and is a significant value. The bouquet has spicy chocolate notes and it displays dense ripe blackberry fruits and velvety tannins. Fragrant, ripe and full bodied.
Their ‘top dog’ in this range is the 2005 Black Cluster Shiraz ($45.00). This is the icon wine in the Wyndham Estate portfolio. Harvested in mid-February, this offering is sourced from a parcel over 30 years old, the oldest in the Black Cluster vineyard located in the Hudson Valley of South Australia. This particular piece of land produces low yields which are hand-picked to ensure that the best fruit is selected. This wine is extremely elegant, balanced and provides enormous depths of fruit with ripe concentrated plum and seamlessly integrated oak. Great with beef, lamb, wild game or cheese. A real winner!
Today, Wyndham Estate is renowned for much more than its wines. The original vineyard has become a favorite tourist destination in the Hunter Valley, featuring fine food and entertainment to complement its popular wines. Wyndham Estate houses an exquisite restaurant, as well as a stunning natural amphitheatre that plays host to a number of musical and theatrical events.
About 130 different grape varieties are used by commercial winemakers in Australia. For all intents and purposes, Wyndham Estate is the birthplace of Australian Shiraz.
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