In 1981 armed with just a pair of secateurs, a few implements and grim determination, Geoff Hardy started his viticultural consulting business.
Since the he has built it into one of the biggest wine industry enterprises in the State, employing 110 people.
Surprisingly few people inside the industry have much idea of the extent of the Hardy business because of his low-key approach.
Aside from the viticultural consulting business, Mr Hardy, also runs the biggest privately owned grapevine cuttings nursery in South Australia.
His team produced four million vine cuttings this year - about 20 per cent of the State's total - which went to 80 growers for planting about 1500ha of vines.
Since completing the wine production and marketing course at Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1977 and starting business as a viticulturist, Mr Hardy, 41, has helped develop at least 1000ha of vineyards.
From the time he was born to Barbara and Thomas Hardy, the wine industry has clearly been in Mr Hardy's blood. His father was the managing director of the Hardy Wine Company when he died in 1980.
But the future was anything but certain in 1981, when he decided to leave the family business and fend for himself.
It followed several years of working as a grower liaison officer for the Hardy group, which gave him the knowledge to start his own business.
It also consists of extensive vineyards with one of the most beautiful in the State at Kuitpo, and partnerships in others at McLaren Vale, Bordertown and Langhorne Creek.
The Geoff Hardy and Pertaringa winemaking business has had considerable success, including winning the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge in 1995.
The industry's rapid development is a move he applauds for the benefit of both the Australian economy and the wine industry itself.
"While there is a boom going on in the Australian industry we have got to try and capture the benefits by producing the best wine in the world," he said.
by Nigel Austin
