Born in the United States but raised in the historic wine growing country of Adelaide’s Southern Vales, Chris is a former dux of the Adelaide University Viticulture and Oenology course where he received the Gramp Hardy Smith Memorial Prize as graduating student with the best academic record. Following university, Chris worked in the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Tasmania, Margaret River, Sonoma and Oregon, before returning to his home state to embark on a winemaking career at Wynns Coonawarra Estate.
With a deep respect for tradition complemented by a keen awareness of current global trends, Chris has become a vital part of the Wynns winemaking team moving into the 21st century.