Ox Hardy
McLaren Vale , South Australia
Brands
Ox Hardy
Winery Overview
Ox Hardy is the precious combination of family, heritage, and provenance inspired by a father son project which ushers in the next chapter of a multi-generational legacy.
The Hardy’s are one of the founding families of the Australian wine industry and the Upper Tintara Vineyard is central to their story. Since Thomas Hardy purchased the land in late 1870s, it has passed from one generation of Hardy to the next, a constant traversing through time. Today, Andrew ‘Ox’ Hardy and his family look after the 140-hectare farm in Blewitt Springs, in the upper slopes of McLaren Vale. Nestled amongst thirty hectares of native bush are 45 hectares of vine; 2.54 hectares of which are the ancestor vines, originally planted by Ox’s great-great grandfather in 1891.
Ox’s winemaking experience spans four decades. Having worked with some of the greats in Australia and abroad, today he focuses his energy crafting benchmark wines which showcase the terroir of the iconic Upper Tintara Vineyard. With one foot in the past, he honours his heritage with three expressions of estate grown Blewitt Springs Shiraz; and the other foot firmly in the future, he celebrates the versatility of the Vale, embracing emerging varieties that suit the terroir and changing climate, ensuring the legacy continues for his children’s children to enjoy.
Seeking Distribution in
Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Seychelles, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, USA, Vietnam, None
Winemaker Bio
Andrew Hardy is one of Australia’s most respected and influential wine industry leaders.
A fifth generation winemaker, he is the great-great grandson of Thomas Hardy, the ‘Father of the South Australian Wine Industry’.
Andrew has four decades’ experience making wine in the Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale working chiefly at Petaluma. He has also made wine in California, Oregon and Bordeaux. Whilst at Knappstein
in Clare, Andrew was awarded the Warren Winiarski Trophy for ‘Best Cabernet in the World’ and he was also pivotal in the industry’s adoption of the Screwcap closure.
Known for his elegant winemaking style, engaging manner and partiality for pink shirts, Andrew’s winemaking philosophy is best described as minimalist, allowing the quality of the vineyard and its fruit to shine through.
Andrew’s childhood and enduring nickname ‘Ox’ gives the eponymous label its name.
