Saturday, 04 September 2010
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Visitors: 453900
Winemaker: Christian Canute Print E-mail
Christian Canute
Having grown up on the vineyard among a family of vingnerons and Barossa folk, it was probably in Christian's blood to end up in the industry in one form or another.

 

 

 

The first opportunity to work in the wine side of the industry was in 1996 at Melbourne St. Wine Cellars, under the wing of John Swanson. That year Christian got to try almost every wine made in Australia and plenty of imports. Most of the other people at the shop liked the safer, big company reds, but John, knowing he was a Barossa boy, showed Christian the wines that are still his favourites today. Greenock Creek, Stonewell, Old Block and Yarra Yering to name just a few. But the most cherished drop was Rockford Basket Press Shiraz.

 

 

 

After a year in the 'big smoke', the country boy got homesick and returned to the 'Land of the Box', (something to do with the German heritage in the Barossa and the shape of their heads), only to end up working in the Barossa's holy of holys, the cellar at Rockford.

 

 

 

This is the stuff dreams are made of.

 

 

 

That year Christian discovered the bounty of Barossa fruit, in particular, that grown in and around the Vine Vale district. With his Mum and Dad's hands on 40 acres in that area, the rest is pretty much history. A crusher, basket press and fermenters soon rocked up and created a small, working winery, and the old vines became the gems of the vineyard.

 

 

 

Christian is married to Amy Loechel, a talented up and coming artist who hails from the western (dark) side of the Valley. Amy designs the striking labels for RUSDEN as a sideline to pursuing her artistic career and raising two beautiful girls.