The year 1850 may as well be part of wine history, for it was a fateful one for the Australian wine industry.

A 20-year-old Englishman named Thomas Hardy emigrated that year from Devon, England to the new colony of South Australia. Upon his arrival, he worked in the farm of a fellow Englishman John Reynell. A few years after, in 1853, with a stroke of luck and perseverance, Hardy became financially stable to purchase a land on the banks of Adelaide’s River Torrens.

He cultivated his property and from there, Thomas Hardy & Sons Pty. Ltd. was born. This paved the way for one of the brands that brought to the world the Australian pride.  Hardy has envisioned to “[creating] quality wines that would be prized in all markets of the world.” 

Over the years, Thomas Hardy’s dedication lives on despite the circumstances brought upon by time. This is particularly evident in his direct descendant, William David “Bill” Hardy, a member of the 5th generation of the Hardy bloodline and who currently serves as Hardys' Brand Ambassador.

But more than the DNA connection, Bill walks the talk of the family business. “I’m actually a man who likes working with my hands and nature,” he enthuses over a press lunch recently held in Manila. True enough, Bill’s resume does make him a respected wine expert that goes beyond his family name. He graduated at the University of Adelaide with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science.

In 1972, he became a trainee winemaker in the family business. He then travelled to Bordeaux in France to further his training and eventually undertook the Diplome National d’Oenologue at the Université de Bordeaux. He returned to Australia in 1973 where he took various responsibilities to aid the development of Hardys.

These include supervising vintage operations at the Waikere and Padthaway regional sites, monitoring and coordinating the rebuilding of winemaking and distillation facilities at the Thomas Hardy headquarters at Reynella, and monitoring wine and brandy production for the company.

He eventually managed the formative years of the company’s extension in France when it established a base there upon acquisition of Domaine de la Baume in the Languedoc-Roussillon area in 1990.

Nowadays, Bill’s job requires him to deal with technical communications and activities which involves the media, clients, staff, wine trade industry, and the people that they serve not only in Australia, but also the whole world. He also holds key positions in the Australian wine industry which includes being a member of the Australian Wine Industry Technical Advisory Committee, among others.

Bacchanalian Aussie treats

Part of Bill’s recent Philippine visit was to orient the press on Hardys’ upcoming new Heritage Reserve Bin (HRB) line that’s about to hit the Philippine market soon. Basically, these involve four kinds that are interregional in blend. First is the HRB D639 Clare Valley/Tasmanian Riesling 2008, the ideal match to prawns and oysters with its vibrant and spicy fruit flavors.

The HRB D638 Margaret River/Adelaide Hills/Pemberton Chardonnay 2007 is just right for roast chicken or barbequed lobster as it is a dry and full-bodied chardonnay that combines the rich stone fruit flavor of Margaret River, the creaminess of the Pemberton Region, and the structure of the Adelaide Hills.

A fitting selection for lamb is a full to medium-bodied wine, the HRB D636 Adelaide Hills/Clare Valley Shiraz 2006, with its rich and spicy oak notes coupled with hints of mulberries, pepper, and mint. A dry and full-bodied HRB D637 Coonawarra/Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is recommended for braised lamb shanks or a succulent beef ragu.

HRB’s release marks Hardys’ commitment to wine making “which continues the famous Hardys tradition of blending the best of a variety from two to three standout regions to create a wine that is greater than the sum of all parts,” opines Hardys Chief Winemaker Paul Lapsey in an official statement. According to Future Trade International, the distributors of Hardys wines in the Philippines, the HRB line will have an economical price range of P1000 up to P2000. An entry level wine from other lines of Hardys usually starts at P250.