The most famous and influential early importer of Australian wines into the U.K. was P.B. Burgoyne and his tradition continues at Glug. Burgoyne set up shop on Old Bond Street, London in 1871 For the next 50 years strode across the Australian wine scene like a colossus being greatly feared and admired. Glug resurrected this brand in 1996 and it is now a treasured part of the portfolio.
Peter Bond Burgoyne began importing the rich reds from McLaren Vale and later from other South Australian regions. An 1880 description reads, ‘P.B. Burgoyne is a rich ruby-coloured Australian Wine, the produce of ferruginous vineyards. It has no additions whatever. It is of a generous quality-it enriches the blood, and is an effective recuperative in extreme lassitude, anaemia and………. It is universally recommended by the medical profession.’
In the 1890s P.B. Burgoyne developed interests in the Rutherglen region around the Mt Ophir winery making fortifieds and the rich Burgundy styles he favoured.
The Towering Ambition of an Early Wine Merchant
Peter Bond Burgoyne began his career as a London wine merchant in 1871-1872 after becoming an agent for the pioneer McLaren Vale vigneron, Dr Alexander Charles Kelly of Tintara. By 1900 Burgoyne had become a towering figure across the Australian wine business since his firm controlled most of the exports to the U.K.
Burgoyne had grand ambitions for Australian wine which led to the purchase of the Mount Ophir estate, a farming and vineyard property, in Rutherglen in 1903. He later built a large winery and cellars at Mount Ophir which is depicted on this postcard dated to C1910.
At this time, it may have been the largest winery in Australia. Burgoyne remained the largest importers of wine into the U. K. until the 1920s.
The Mount Ophir winery closed in 1955 though whether it was owned by Burgoyne at this time is uncertain. P.B. Burgoyne as a wine brand was revived in the mid-1990s and the first release by Glug was a McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006 followed by a P.B. Burgoyne Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2008. There will be many more.
Of interest the Mount Ophir property was purchased by the Brown Family in May 2016. They have been busily refurbishing the building as a centre for events with accommodation We are sure they can supply tasty Rutherglen wines as well.
On the English Heritage List
The company’s original dockside warehouse is now a Grade II Listed Building in Leamouth, London.
Footnote: When Glug resurrected the P.B. Burgoyne brand in the mid-1990s, the graphic artist employed was Barbara Harkness. She included elements from the early 1880s-1900s designs in our labels. Barbara later went on the create the Yellowtail label released in 2000 and her fee for work shot up. We hold hopes that the Burgoyne brand will similarly shoot ahead for Glug.
Full list of P.B.Burgoyne releases
Details of other Glug brands are at Glug Wines.
