Chris(tine) Canute

Chris grew up on a vineyard property only a 'stones throw' from the RUSDEN vineyard. Her family has grown grapes in the Valley for generations. Most weekends and holidays were spent 'helping' out on the property - picking grapes, 'pulling out', tractor driving, digging out weeds, etc. The types of jobs that all kids on the land were expected to do 'back then'.

Well not much has changed now that she (and husband Dennis) have their own patch of vineyard - 40 acres in the heart of the Barossa, acquired in 1979. Chris is still vineyard overseer / operator / worker and caterer, mum and nana, and trying to work herself into a 'management' position. Her modest approach is:

"If a job is once begun
Never leave it till it?s done
Be the labour great or small
Do it well or not at all!"
(A poem quoted by Chris's father as they worked)

Dennis Canute

Dennis was born and raised in the Copper Triangle on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. He became a teacher and while teaching on Kangaroo Island, met Chris, also a teacher. In the late 1970's he became restless and as a result, purchased 40 acres of run down but redeemable vineyard at Vine Vale.

To finance the business during the times of low grape prices, Dennis kept teaching, sending his wife out into the vineyard to hone the skills developed in her youth (the results can be tasted in the bottle today).

In 1995, Dennis became fully employed in the vineyard. Now he tries to manage an expanding winery business, with lots of input from his wife and son, Christian.