SA Chapter HALL OF FAME

Web: www.yalumba.com

Yalumba was founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith, British migrant and English brewer, who had brought his family to Angaston seeking a new life. After purchasing a 30-acre parcel of land just beyond the south-eastern boundary of Angaston, Smith and his son Sidney began clearing it of native vegetation, planting the first vines by moonlight. Samuel named his patch 'Yalumba' – aboriginal for 'all the land around'.

When Samuel died in 1889 at the age of 76, his son Sidney took charge of the estate and helped bring Yalumba into the 20th century working with his sons Walter and Percival.

Sidney's son Walter (nicknamed 'Tiger Smith') a colourful, adventurous character is regarded as Yalumb's first marketer. While he traveled widely selling wines, his older brother Percival oversaw the winemaking and supervised the cellar management.

Tiger Smith's son, Sidney Hill Smith, was blessed with vision and energy and he devoted himself to guiding the winery through the depression years. In 1938, he and other wine industry leaders were flying from Adelaide to Melbourne when the aircraft crashed taking the lives of those on board.

As state manager of the company's Western Australian business, Wyndham Hill Smith moved back to Angaston from Perth and became manager of Yalumba at the age of 30. At that time, Australians consumed brandy, sherry and ports. Wyndham's respect for European wines and cultures led him to predict a swing in wine toward ‘table wines’.

Born at the winery, Mark Hill Smith was destined to be a wine man. Following service in World War II, Mark attended Roseworthy College and studied viticulture. He took the National Sales role and roamed Australia and overseas creating commercial opportunities for Yalumba. His move to the position of CEO was to last until 1985.

A fifth generation descendant of Samuel Smith, Wyndham's son Robert did not need to find an industry in which to build a career. Robert joined Yalumba with a BB (marketing) in 1975. He ultimately assumed responsibility for exports, mapping an international strategy for the company and its brands. In 1985, he was appointed Managing Director of Yalumba, making him one of the youngest CEOs the Australian wine industry had seen. Four years later, in 1989, Robert and his brother Sam bought out the other family members, thereby ensuring the growth and future direction of the company.

Yalumba is Australia's oldest family-owned winemaker, and Australia's 22nd oldest business.

Yalumba was inducted into the FBA(SA) Hall of Fame in 2003.