Accolade & Bec Hardy Wines lauded at SA export awards

Accolade Wines have been named South Australian Exporter of the Year and winner of the 2021 Premier's Export Award for Agribusiness, Food and Beverage while Bec Hardy Wines has been named Regional Exporter of the Year at the awards presentation held in Adelaide.

Despite it being one of the most challenging years for exporters due to COVID-19, market access and supply chain disruptions, South Australian goods exports reached $13 billion for the first time in the state’s history.

Premier Steven Marshall said, "South Australian exporters have shown their resilience and their ability to adapt to economic changes and challenges...

"To emerge from the challenges of the last 18 months and to record the highest year on year increase since January 2012, is testament to the quality of South Australian products and services on offer. Our exporters are playing a critical role in the economic recovery from this pandemic and driving the growth of South Australia’s economy."

Both Accolade Wines and Bec Hardy Wines are beneficiaries of South Australia's new $5.4 million Wine Export Recovery and Expansion Program being rolled out over 4 years to support companies to diversify into new markets and grow sales of premium South Australian wines across the globe. 

Derek Nicol, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Accolade Wines said, "From our first grapes tread at Hardys winery in 1853 to becoming one of the biggest wine companies in the world, exports have always played a significant role in making our Australian wines some of the most loved around the world. 

"The awards are huge achievements for our team, and they recognise our roots in South Australian heritage, the strong connection to regional communities across the state, and our truly global presence across 130+ markets.

"The South Australian Government continues to cultivate an excellent business operating environment for the entire wine industry and we thank Premier Marshall for recognising our achievements in export growth over the last 12 months. We are looking forward to another fantastic year ahead." 

Currently, South Australia’s wine exports are valued at over $2 billion, accounting for 70 per cent of the total value of Australian wine exports in 2020.

Bec Hardy Wines

The Wine Export Recovery and Expansion Program helped McLaren Vale-based winery Bec Hardy Wines to sign the biggest deal since its 2020 launch when Ms Hardy took over the Pertaringa wine brand from her dad, Geoff.

More than 130k bottles of McLaren Vale Shiraz, Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc and South Australian Cabernet Sauvignon will be shipped in November and distributed through major retail chains in the Midwest, including Indianapolis, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Milwaukee, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Mr von Doussa represents a number of Australian brands in North America via his business Liquid Innovation, including. Blue Pyrnees Estate, Thompson Estate in Margaret River, Bethany Wines Barossa Valley and Moss Wines in the Margaret River.

Bec Hardy said, “This initial order into the US is the culmination of twelve months of hard work and we’re thrilled with the success. It’s great having an in-market representative who fully understands Australian wine and the nuances of the US market, ensuring we’re getting our wine in front of customers and spreading the South Australian sunshine further into the Northern Hemisphere!”

The shipment comprises 1,900 cases of the Pertaringa ‘Undercover’ Shiraz and Pertaringa ‘Scarecrow’ Sauvignon Blanc, as well as just under 10,000 cases of Pertaringa Lakeside Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, which was rated 92 points by renowned US wine publication, Wine Enthusiast which said of the wine: “delivers in a big way…with bright lucid aromas of red berries, baking spice, tree bark and flowers” and is a “modern medium-weight Aussie Cab that should be a weeknight staple”.

Ms Hardy said, “Securing this deal in the same week we were named as Regional Exporter of the Year, our second major export award in just fifteen months, is further confirmation that we’re on the right path to succeed internationally."