By Andy Young
Hardys Wines' global brand ambassador Bill Hardy has announced that he will step down from the role next year, and his daughter Alix will take over.
Bill has been with the Hardys company for 44 years and Alix becomes a sixth generation Hardy family member with the winery.
In annoucing his decision, Bill said: "Making wine for Hardys and representing the brand around the world over the past four decades has been a huge part of my life. I will always be a part of this company and I am very much looking forward to the next stage of my long career with Hardys Wines."
Although he is leaving the official role of global brand ambassador, Bill will still play an integral role in representing and promoting the Hardys brand both in Australia and overseas.
In taking over, Alix said that she hopes to bring the perspective of a new generation into the company.
"They say you can choose your friends but not your family, but I would choose our family any day," Alix said.
"I feel exceptionally lucky to have experienced our family’s legacy through the close-knit family that we are today, and honoured to be a part of its future."
Bill was recently recognised at the 2015 Royal Adelaide Wine Show Luncheon where he was made a Wine Communicators of Australia “Legend of the Vine”, joining well-known wine identities such as James Halliday, David Lowe, Phil Laffer and Lyndey Milan.