Winemaker Biographies
Dan Buckle
When asked one word to describe himself, Dan offers ‘meticulous’. It’s this approach to winemaking that has seen him progress to become one of Victoria’s, and Australia’s, most prominent winemakers. It might not be that surprising that Dan wound up in the wine industry. With his father the proud owner of a Mornington Peninsula vineyard, Dan grew up planting, pruning and harvesting. But it was while studying an Arts Degree at Melbourne University and working in wine retail that the wine bug took its hold and he decided to study a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine). Dan’s career has spanned vintages in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, two years at Coldstream Hills working with industry luminary James Halliday, five years at Yering Station and most recently eight years with Mount Langi Ghiran. Dan is thrilled to be back in the Yarra Valley which he regards as a progressive and dynamic winemaking community. If a meticulous approach to winemaking at Chandon isn’t enough to keep him busy, his three kids under the age of five will!
Glenn Thompson
Glenn’s passion for wine was first put to use during his time as a restaurant manager. It was an interest he then pursued further with a role in fine wine retail. Glenn’s winemaking career began in earnest at Bass Phillip Wines, Leongatha in 2000. This was followed by a four year spell at De Bortoli in the Yarra Valley, before joining the team at Domaine Chandon as Operations Winemaker in August 2005, completing his winemaking studies the same year.
In January 2007, Glenn was promoted to the position of winemaker and in 2008 Glenn was given responsibility for all sparkling wine production at Domaine Chandon - a position which puts him at the forefront of the sparkling winemaking process, while still forming an integral part of the still wine making team.
Adam Keath
Adam’s love of wine began during his time studying and working in hospitality and restaurant management. This growing passion inspired him to complete his first vintage at Domaine Chandon as a cellar hand in 2002. After a brief period working at Scotchman’s Hill, on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, Adam returned to Domaine Chandon for the 2003 vintage and has been an integral part of the winemaking team ever since. A vintage at Cape Mentelle in Margaret River in 2006 and his continuing studies have added additional breadth to Adam’s winemaking skills and knowledge. His enthusiasm and commitment to absolute quality saw him appointed to the position of Winemaker, with responsibility for production across both still and sparkling wines in early 2008.
Daniel Dujic, Viticulturist
A return visit to his grandparents’ vineyard near Trieste in Italy as a 10 year old sparked an interest in viticulture which continued to develop in a home where wine was part of the family’s daily meal ritual. After a career in media, Daniel returned to study to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture at the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Science in Agriculture at CSU. Daniel has always worked in the Yarra Valley, initially as a Viticultural Technical Officer and then as a Viticulturist. In September 2007 Daniel joined Domaine Chandon and has since managed the expansion of the company’s vineyards, while overseeing fruit intake from the coolest regions of Victoria and Tasmania. It is the impact of region and vintage on wine style, and their importance in blending, that provides Daniel with the greatest fascination. A keen cyclist, Daniel prepares for each vintage by competing in mountain bike marathons and aiding his recovery with a moderate intake of sparkling wine.