Chris Mein

Chris Mein is the Viticulturalist (Vineyard Manager) at Longview Vineyard, where he gets to perfectly blend his interests in science and agriculture. He is constantly evolving his methods to improve vine and soil health with a focus on biodiversity and sustainability.

Chris wasn’t always specifically interested in viticulture but did have an interest in working outdoors and in an agricultural environment, as both of his parents came from families with agricultural backgrounds. The more time he spent in agricultural settings, the more he developed an appreciation for how complex farming systems can be, and how decisions made on the farm can significantly impact the wine product.

During school, Chris developed an interest in science, and it seemed to him that a career in the wine industry would be a good blend of both interests.

He developed more appreciation for the wine industry by working in bottle shops and tasting wine after leaving school, becoming increasingly interested in how the decisions viticulturists and winemakers make from one year to another can have such an impact on the final wine.

Through his time at university, across both North Terrace and Waite campuses, Chris found himself drawn more to the viticulture subjects, rather than winemaking. He finds his experiences at Waite were particularly memorable.

“The Waite campus stands out for me... I had no idea just how much world class research and development is based there – it’s a hidden gem and I would bet that many people who drive past it every day don’t know either. Being able work in the Coombe vineyard and put into practice techniques learnt in the classroom was memorable, as well as trying to convince my friends that an afternoon class of wine tasting was called sensory studies. This class almost always had a full attendance.”

"Being able work in the Coombe vineyard and put into practice techniques learnt in the classroom was memorable, as well as trying to convince my friends that an afternoon class of wine tasting was called sensory studies. This class almost always had a full attendance.”

Chris is still in touch with several Bachelor of Science (Viticulture and Oenology) alumni from his cohort, with many holding various winemaking and viticultural positions across the country, so it is not uncommon for him to run into old classmates at various industry events throughout the year.

The quality of his work has been well recognised by industry peers: he has been a finalist in the Young Gun Vineyard of the year awards two years running; won the prestigious 2022 Francois De Castella trophy for best young white wine at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards (one of four trophies won that night); and most recently won four trophies at the 2023 Adelaide Hills wine show, including best red wine of show.

Chris is currently working on several exciting projects in the vineyard. A shift in consumer tastes towards more Mediterranean style wines has prompted a change in the varietal mix of vineyards – away from Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and towards Nebbiolo. Longview Vineyard has some of the oldest Nebbiolo vines in the region and wines made from this variety have become their speciality. Chris hopes that by planting Nebbiolo on various aspects across the vineyard, as well increasing the clonal diversity, they can produce Australia’s best example of this variety.

He is also continuously working towards improving the overall health of the vineyard through the elimination of herbicides, improving soil health, promoting better vine training, and pruning practices which will allow the vines to sit in better balance with the environment, ultimately producing high quality fruit that is expressive of the place and season.

Chris’s mission to continually improve the vineyard and produce the highest quality grapes for his wines requires perseverance and a commitment to long-term outcomes. These are some of the key traits that he advises are required for those considering a similar career.

“Some advice I would give is that you need to be patient and persistent. It takes years for vineyards to mature and yield results from your effort, so stay committed but be adaptable – no two seasons are the same.”

“Some advice I would give is that you need to be patient and persistent. It takes years for vineyards to mature and yield results from your effort, so stay committed but be adaptable – no two seasons are the same.”

Chris also recommends being open to continuous learning and professional development, and has himself attended several management courses through the University of Adelaide’s Executive Education programs, which he says have helped him to develop his leadership and management skills. For aspiring viticulturalists, he suggests having some hobbies that allow for down time and stress relief (his are cooking and cycling), to create balance in an industry that can be stressful at times. Despite that occasional stress, he says, the wine industry holds some extremely rewarding careers for those who are passionate, patient and always eager  to learn.