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The Chalkers Crossing Team
Dr Ted Ambler
Managing Director
Ted and Wendy Ambler, both geologists, have long histories in
the mining industry. The family has owned and operated small
mining operations since the late-1980’s. The nexus between mining
and the wine industry came when Ted was managing the operation
of the family’s Galong Mine 50 km east of Young. Being keenly
interested in wine and knowing that high quality wine was being
made ‘next door’ was sufficient stimulus for the purchase
of land near Young to plant a vineyard and, ultimately, to build
a winery. What seemed like a good idea at the time has become a
serious business for the family. Ted is very happy to have highly
experienced and dedicated professionals in Celine Rousseau, Winemaker,
Chris Allcock, Viticulturist, and Ian Latchford, General Manager
- Marketing & Sales, to support him. He had only one request
of the Chalkers Crossing team – ‘please make wonderful
wines for the company’ and so far that is exactly what
they have done!
Ms Celine Rousseau
Winemaker
2002 QANTAS Young Winemaker of the Year, Celine Rousseau, has
been the company winemaker since 2000. Born in Paris and trained
in Bordeaux, her passion for making wine has seen her hone her
skills in prestigious Chateaux in Bordeaux, Champagne and Languedoc
in France, as well as in wineries of the Western Australian regions
of Margaret River and the Perth Hills. This diverse experience
and Celine’s own incredibly high standards are reflected
in the success of Chalkers Crossing wines at domestic and international
exhibitions.
Building on a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology
from the highly regarded Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris,
Celine went on to obtain a Master of Oenology and Marketing from
the University of Reims in Champagne and the National Diploma of
Oenology from the University of Bordeaux.
Celine made Australia her permanent home in 1997. Now happily
working with us at Chalkers Crossing we are pleased that world
renowned wine experts, including James Halliday, have consistently
reviewed our wines positively, praising highly Celine’s terroir
based viticulture and winemaking style.
Mr Chris Allcock
Viticulturist
Chris joined the team at Chalkers Crossing in late-2000 after
recognising that Celine, Ted and Wendy were committed to crafting
wines of the highest quality, a passion that he shares.
Chris had been managing vineyards since 1997, all in cool climate
regions of Australia. His goal has always been to produce the
best possible fruit reflecting the season and climate in which
it was produced.
The management style that Chris employs in the vineyard revolves
around nature, utilising when possible beneficial bugs for pest
control and composts for fertilizers. Each vine is hand pruned,
managed and cropped according to its individual capacity. Since
Chris joined the company, our vineyard has responded to his care
with demonstrable
improvements in vine and soil health, and fruit quality.
Such improvements should continue to deliver wines of ever increasing
quality for Chalkers Crossing.
Mr Ian Latchford
General Manager - Marketing & Sales
Ian joined Chalkers Crossing in March 2006. Ian’s first
experience in the wine industry was planting vines at a very tender
age in his family’s vineyard in Hertfordshire, U.K. – his
love of wine came a little later!
The Latchford family wine business brought Ian contacts and work
experience throughout Europe particularly in Italy, France, Germany
and Spain. Ian’s first taste of Australian wines whilst working
for Oddbins, wine merchants in central London, was a revelation.
The resulting passion for Australian wines saw Ian’s career
progress into the export of Australian wines to the UK and Northern
Europe, Canada, USA and Asia.
Ian says ‘Chalkers Crossing wines provide an opportunity
to show the world that the Hilltops and Tumbarumba Regions are
two of Australia’s hidden regional gems. The quality of wines
produced from these areas is clear evidence that small vineyards
can produce premium quality fruit that, with appropriate care and
attention, can be made into very special wines’.
Ms Glenda Bowerman
Administration Manager
Glenda has been with Chalkers Crossing since late-2000 quietly
keeping the company on the organisational ‘straight and narrow’.
Glenda is involved in all aspects of the business except wine making.
She helps put export labels on wines heading to our overseas customers,
sends wines by courier to customers in Australia, carries out the
accounting function, deals with government authorities, fields
all incoming telephone calls and helps with the cellar door. If
Chalkers Crossing were a football team Glenda would have played
in every position on the field but one! Glenda also enjoys Chalkers
Crossing wines.
Anyone with an enquiry can feel sure that Glenda can either help
them or direct them to the appropriate officer of the company.
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