| Constellation Wines Australia | |
| Location | Old Reynella, South Australia, Australia |
|---|---|
| Formerly | Hardy Wine Company |
| Founded | 1853 |
| Key people | Peter Dawson, Group Chief Winemaker |
| Parent company | Constellation Brands |
| Varietals | Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay |
| Website | http://www.cwines.com.au/ |
Constellation Wines Australia, formerly Hardy Wine Company, is a wine making company owned by Constellation Brands in Victor, New York, USA, Constellations is the largest wine company in the world. The Hardy Wine Company was founded by Thomas Hardy in 1853 in Adelaide, the business soon became South Australia's largest winemaker. In January 2011 the company was sold, along with Constellation Europe, to the Australian CHAMP private equity company. The company will be re-named "Accolade Wines" from 27 June 2011.
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At 20 years of age, Thomas Hardy arrived in South Australia after sailing from the English county of Devon in 1850. Hardy then spent the next three years working at Reynella Farm, working as a gold miner in the Victorian goldfields, and driving cattle. Hardy used the money he had earned to purchase a property on the banks of the River Torrens, which he named 'Bankside'.[1]
Vines were planted on the Bankside property and as soon as they were able to bear fruit, wine making commenced. The vineyard became so successful, with its wines sold both locally and in England, that Hardy was able to purchase the Tintara Vineyard Company in 1876.
Hardy steadily expanded the company over the years, purchasing a bottling plant at Mile End, champagne cellars on Currie Street in Adelaide, and a disused flour mill in McLaren Vale. The company 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. The company purchased Chateau Reynella in 1982, where Thomas Hardy had commenced employment some 130 years before, and converted it to its headquarters.
Further expansion came 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.
On 31 March 2008, The Hardy Wine Company changed its name to Constellation Wines Australia.
On 31 January 2011, CHAMP Private Equity acquired a majority interest in Constellation Brands Australian and UK assets. Constellation Wines Australia will be re-named Accolade Wines.
Constellation Wines Australia and Constellation Europe were formally renamed Accolade Wines on 27th June 2011