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Back in the 1840s, Richard Bailey moved to the area from Melbourne, and established a carting business and a store, which sold supplies to gold miners. Richard, originally from Manchester, selected his family property in 1853. Richard called the property Bundarra, an Aboriginal word which meant ‘meeting of the hills’. Vines were planted and Varley Bailey, Richard’s son, is credited with making the first wine in 1870. The family kept the property for more than a century. There were experiments with cattle, wool and cereal crops, but the distinctive red granite soil became increasingly recognised for producing luscious fortified wines and full-bodied dry reds. In this area, Bailey’s was known as one of the best. Winemaking became a family tradition. In 1972, Alan Bailey - Richard’s great-grandson - retired after 37 years as winemaker, and the vineyards and winery were purchased by Davis Consolidated Industries Ltd. Harry Tinson was appointed Chief Executive and Winemaker. Harry retired in 1986, having guided Baileys to an enhanced reputation as makers of quality red table wines and fortified wines. This reputation continued to grow until Mildara Blass (now called Beringer Blass Wine Estates) acquired Baileys in 1996. Now the development has accelerated. The vineyard’s Rutherglen Brown Muscat, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay Touriga and Tokay (Muscadelle) grapes are used to make wines of great character.
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Baileys Cabernet Sauvignon Baileys of Glenrowan 1904 Block Shiraz Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Muscat Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Port Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Tokay Baileys Shiraz |
The
land around Glenrowan, in Victoria, is known as Kelly Country, because
Ned and his gang roamed the area. But Ned was by no means first.