Hardy Wine Company
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| Hardy Wine Company | |
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| Location | Originally Reynella, South Australia, Australia, but now widespread holdings. |
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| Founded | 1853 |
| Key people | Peter Dawson, Group Chief Winemaker |
| Varietals | Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay |
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Hardy Wine Company is part of the world's largest wine making firm. It was founded by Thomas Hardy in 1850s South Australia. Their "Stamp of Australia" series of inexpensive varietals (sold in bottle or as box wine) are very popular in international markets, but they also make a considerable amount of fine wine.
[edit] History
At 20 years of age, Thomas Hardy arrived in South Australia after sailing from the English county of Devon in 1850. Thomas then spent the next three years working at Reynella Farm, mining for gold in the Victorian goldfields and driving cattle. With the money he had earnt Thomas purchased a property on the banks of the River Torrens which he named "Bankside" [1].
Vines were soon planted on the Bankside property and as soon as they were able to bear fruit winemaking commenced. Hardy's wine became so successful for Thomas, selling wines both locally and in England, that he was able to purchase the Tintara Vineyard Company in 1876.
Over the years Thomas steadily expanded the company by purchasing a bottling plant at Mile End, champagne cellars on Currie Street in Adelaide, an old disused flour mill in McLaren Vale and established extensive vineyards in the Padthaway area in 1968. In 1976, Thomas Hardy & Sons made its first corporate acquisition by purchasing the London-based Emu Wine Company which included Houghton, Western Australia's largest winery, and Morphett Vale. In 1982 Thomas Hardy & Sons purchased Chateau Reynella which ironically was where Thomas Hardy first began his employment some 130 years before.
The company was further expanded in 1992 when Thomas Hardy & Sons merged with Berri Renmano Limited to form at the time Australia's second largest wine group, BRL Hardy Limited. In 2003, the brands of BRL Hardy and those of Constellation Brands were merged to create the world's largest international wine business [2]. As a result of this merger BRL Hardy Limited was renamed the Hardy Wine Company. In 2006 Constellation Brands acquired Vincor International adding the West Australian brands of Amberley and Goundrey to the Hardy portfolio.
[edit] References
- ^ Hardy, T. K. (2001). The Australian Wine Pictorial Atlas. Brighton, South Australia: Vintage Image Productions. ISBN 1-876303-01-8.
- ^ Hardy Wine Company History www.hardywines.com.au
