Hardy Wine Company

Infobox Australian Winery
winery_name = Constellation Wines Australia
winery_
location_place = Originally Reynella
location_state = South Australia
location_country = Australia, but now widespread holdings.
wine_region =
former_name = Hardy Wine Company
other_labels=
year_founded = 1853
first_vintage =
key_people = Peter Dawson, Group Chief Winemaker
parent_company = Constellation Brands
cases_per_year =
signature_wine =
varietal1 = Shiraz
varietal2 = Cabernet Sauvignon
varietal3 = Chardonnay
varietal4 =
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varietal6 =
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varietal8 =
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varietal10 =
varietal11 =
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varietal15 =
other_product1=
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homepage=http://www.hardywines.com.au/
other_attractions =
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tasting=

Constellation Wines Australia is an Australian winemaking company owned by Constellation Brands, 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.

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 earned Thomas purchased a property on the banks of the River Torrens which he named "Bankside" cite book|author=Hardy, T. K.|year=2001|title=The Australian Wine Pictorial Atlas|location=Brighton, South Australia | publisher=Vintage Image Productions | id = ISBN 1-876303-01-8 ] .

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 [ [http://www.hardywines.com.au/company/history.html Hardy Wine Company History] www.hardywines.com.au] . 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 March 31, 2008, The Hardy Wine Company changed it's name to Constellation Wines Australia.

References

ee also

* South Australian food and drink

External links

* [http://www.hardywines.com.au/ Hardy Wine Company]
* [http://www.cbrands.com/ Constellation Brands]