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BEC Hardy Wines has announced a new winemaker: Bec Swincer. Swincer brings with her over two decades of winemaking experience.
Bec Hardy, the great-great-great granddaughter of Thomas Hardy, known as the ‘Father of South Australian wine’ took the reins from her father Geoff in 2020 to become the owner of Pertaringa, in its 40th year, whilst Geoff retains ownership of Wines by Geoff Hardy in the Adelaide Hills featuring the successful brands of K1, Handcrafted and GMH.
In the six months since the transition, she has overhauled the McLaren Vale cellar door, developed a number of new varieties under her eponymous Bec Hardy label, and been chosen by AusTrade as the only South Australian business in its ‘Remarkable Australian Exporter’ showcase.
Bec Swincer has spent time working within leading wineries in Clare Valley, Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills, where she was winemaker for Petaluma.
She studied Oenology at the University of Adelaide and the University of California, Davis and is returning to Australia following two years working in California, where she was part of an all-female team at The Prisoner Wine Company.
“It’s been a rewarding experience working in the US and learning about the different approach to winemaking and progressive techniques that are being introduced there, but it’s great to be able to come back home to Australia and McLaren Vale in particular, with its welcoming community of passionate winemakers,” Swincer said.
“Having come from an all-female team and as a mother of daughters, it’s really exciting to be part of a brand that celebrates women pushing forward in the industry.
“As Pertaringa and Bec Hardy Wines enter a new era, it’s a huge opportunity for me to make my mark and play a part in something really special.
“Joining just before harvest means I’ll be getting stuck in immediately – first up is the pick of the Pertaringa sauvignon blanc. The mild growing season so far is promising fantastic quality for our reds and whites, which is really exciting.”
For more details see www.bechardy.com.au.