Rolf Binder
We have a photo that shows Rolf was lifting grapes by age four. He recalls planting vineyards in 1972 when he was twelve. From 1975 it began to get serious and the first proper vintage worked was in 1978, a particularly good year.
A short trip the Europe followed and then to Roseworthy (now the Waite Institute) to do the wine science course which was finished in 1981. A year with Doug Lehmann at Basedow’s and since 1982 it has been full time at Veritas at the in the old winery on Langmeil Road.
Found time to do a vintage in Germany in 1983 and believes the first vintage when he understood what to do was in 1985. From this time Rolf began a series of experiments including left field wines such as a vintage port with Rob O'Callaghan at Rockford in 1988 and then helping Chris Ringland and Jane Ferrari with the first of the influential reds of 'Three Rivers' in 1989. The first wine that was to evolve into the Veritas Hanisch was made in 1988 and was sold as Long Rows Shiraz.
Ideas were now coming quickly and in 1991 with Chris Ringland and Russel Johnstone made the first of the Grenache and Mataro blends which was released under the RBJ label. A super concentrated Mataro Grenache was made in 1993 and this was the first of the Magpie wines. A Shiraz made to push this variety to the limit followed in 1994 and became the Magpie 'Malcolm'.Success followed in 1995 and 1996 when Veritas was awarded the Trophy for the Best Barossa Shiraz. Recognition by the American wine critic Robert Parker came in 1998. The move to a new winery came in 1999 and new ventures unfolded including a joint venture with Two Hands and recently with the Clare winery Kilikanoon with a new Barossa wine 'Binder-Mitchell'.
Christa (Binder) Deans
Christa's first wine memories are the chug, chug of the piston pump, pumping grape must to the five open fermenters at the old winery and also the intoxicating smells of fermentation. This was many years ago, only technology has changed. She also recalls the many trips to the Iron Triangle in South Australia, starting when she was seven or eight, with her parents delivering wine to many immigrant families. Some of them are still customers of Veritas.
Her wine studies started in 1976 at Roseworthy College, during this time she gained winemaking experience in Germany, France and Austria. In 1982 she was fortunate to gain a position on the winemaking team at Wolf Blass Wines. During this rewarding time she trained with John Glaetzer, Stephen John and Chris Hatcher, her area of expertise developing in white wine and sparkling wine production. In 1989, with her husband Leon was able to spend the vintage in Champagne, France at various press houses and wineries. This greatly expanded their love and knowledge of the area and its products.
Since 1993 she has been working with Rolf in the production of white wines for Veritas.
Carlene Schmaal
Carlene is one of our stalwarts, as she has worked with the Binder family at Veritas Winery for about forty years. Picking, pruning, wine sales, bottling, labelling, blending fortifieds, driving the forklift, preparing meals at festivals,.....the list goes on. There is not much Carlene hasn't done. She started working with Rolf and Mrs Binder at the old shed, and has kept everyone motivated through to the second generation of winemakers, and the transition to the new winery. Nowadays, Carlene spends more time fishing, and comes in to work when it convenient to her lifestyle. But there's no way we are going to let her go! Rolf often says that he'll install a labelling machine in her room when she gets shipped off to the old person’s home!
Harry Mantzarapis
Harry Mantzarapis, our red winemaker has worked closely with Rolf Binder and Christa Deans since 2008. Originally from the Riverland, South Australia's 'fruit bowl' on the Murray River at Renmark, Harry has turned his attention away from the peaches, nectarines, and oranges his parents and uncles grow, to grapes and wine production.
Harry has successfully completed his Oenology degree at Adelaide University and is entrenched in the glamorous business of making wine. His passion for premium wine led him to the Barossa where he then joined our winemaking team in continuing to produce quality premium wines.
Julie Donnellan
Julie Donnellan joined us at Rolf Binder Wines in late January 2006. She grew up in Melbourne and landed in the Barossa Valley after pursuing her taste buds through Victoria, Sydney, Hamilton Island, Magnetic Island, Western Europe, Asia, and finally Adelaide. Twenty years experience in the Hospitality and Tourism industries means that she knows how to pour wine, taste wine, sell wine, describe wine, match wine to food, and most importantly, enjoy wine. This will aid her, and especially the Rolf Binder Wine team, in her capacity as the Wine Stylist (Marketing Manager and Cellar Door Queen). Degrees in Hotel Management and Wine Marketing also place Julie in good stead as we consolidate and elevate the marketing kudos of Rolf Binder Wines to match the exceptional quality of its products.
Bill Barnes
Billy has been working with Rolf and Veritas Winery since early 2005. He has slaved over the vines in all types of weather - driving rains and formidable droughts with days on end of forty-plus degrees. For the most part, Bill gets to work outdoors in our beautiful Barossa Valley in largely gorgeous weather. He is our vineyard worker, and together with Bruce, he keeps the vines flourishing.