George Wyndham

George Wyndham (20 June 1801 – 24 December 1870) was an English farmer, wine-grower and pastoralist; he is famous for having established the Wyndham wineries and his estate Dalwood in the Hunter Valley, where he planted Australia's first commercial Shiraz vineyard. He was a cricketer in England during his youth.

Early life 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. He served a magistrate in Maitland but refused a seat in the Legislative council in 1839. 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.