George Wyndham (winemarker)

Born in 1801 in Dinton, Wiltshire England, Wyndham was the third son of William Wyndham and Letitia, née Popham. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge with the goal to enter the Church of England. He is recorded as playing cricket for Cambridge University in two matches in 1820 and 1821, totalling 12 runs with a highest score of 6 and taking 7 wickets. In 1824 Wyndham emigrated to Canada, traveling with John Galt the secretary of the Canada Company. == Immigrating to Australia ==

Refusing a post under the British government out of opposition to its policies, he instead emigrated to Australia as a farmer. == Establishing Dalwood ==

He settled near Branxton, where Wyndham purchased the 2000 acres for £1,200, renaming it Dalwood after one of his father's farms at Dinton. In 1830 he planted the Australia's first commercial Shiraz vineyard. He named some of his wines in the language of the Wonnarua people, such as Bukkulla. The labour crisis of 1840 hit Dalwood hard. In 1845 Wyndham left Dalwood under the care of the manager. With his family, a few livestock and stock men, he traveled the New England plateau to the Richmond River went to Keelgryrah. In 1846 recrossed the Dividing Range, Wyndham took up a property of 40,000 acres near Inverell named Bukkulla as well as 30,000 acres in the Inverell district named and Nullamanna. In 1847 prices increased and they returned to Dalwood. Bukkulla was worked in conjunction with the Dalwood vineyard. His son John eventually took over management. Wyndham describes planting and tending his crops, weather conditions, the building and maintenance of his property, and relationships with family, workers and the Indigenous people. Wyndham's legacy is as a significant pioneer of the wine industry in Australia, due to his ability to find the best grapes to suit the local area and conditions. == Political career ==

In England he was seen as radical advocating for religious tolerance, parliamentary reform and abolition of the Corn Laws and tithes. He supported the rights of squatters. Supported Governor Sir Ralph Darling against William Charles Wentworth. He was a signatory to a petition to seeking the importation of coolie labour. He served a magistrate in Maitland but refused a seat in the Legislative council in 1839. He was elected chairman of the Maitland Branch of Australian Immigration Association in 1842 becoming a member of Maitland District Council the following year. He then became a member of the Hunter River Vineyard Association in 1867. == Personal life ==

He met his wife Margaret Jay in Italy in 1825. The couple had 12 sons and two daughters. His published writings include The Impending Crisis (Maitland, 1851), and On the Land Policy of New South Wales (Maitland, 1866). He died in Sydney on 24 December 1870 and was buried at a private cemetery on his property at Dalwood. == References ==