Description
About Chris Hancock
Vigneron, wine maker, communicator and business man Chris Hancock (b. 1941), is a lifelong wine man. He has worked with the Oatley family for almost four decades, playing an integral role in shaping both their wine styles and worldwide success.
Prior to joining the Oatleys, he completed his Diploma of Oenology at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia, graduating as Dux in 1963 with 1st Class Honours, distinctions in Chemistry and winemaking, the Leo Buring Gold Medal and the Gramp-Hardy-Smith Memorial Prize.
From there he went to work for the Penfolds in a number of senior technical managerial roles in South Australia and New South Wales. During this time he travelled extensively through the wine regions of the world and completed an Advanced Management program in the United States.
Hancock jumped aboard the Oatley boat in 1976 when, just a few years into their grapegrowing venture, they found themselves making their own wine and needing a market to sell it to. He was their winemaker for a short while but for the rest of his time with the family Hancock guided the wine styles, ran the business in co-operation with Bob and Sandy Oatley and spearheaded their export success.
As he opened up new international markets, Hancock built enduring relationships with major stakeholders and was instrumental in putting Australian Chardonnay on the global map. In 1993 he was made an honorary member of the Institute of Masters of Wine – a rare accolade indeed. In 1992 he was invited to become President of the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London and continues to serve as an Honorary Vice President.
Hancock has been involved in Australian wine industry affairs since 1978 with particular emphasis on regulatory and compliance matters. He also served for nine years as a Board member of the Australian Wine And Brandy Corporation, the last 3 as Deputy Chair. In March 2017 he was acknowledged by the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) and named a Life Member of the Australian Wine Industry at a special awards presentation in Adelaide, South Austra- lia.
Since 2006 he has helped to guide the Oatley family’s resurgence in the world of wine through the formation of Robert Oatley Vineyards.
He has crafted their multi-award winning Four In Hand Barossa Shiraz in tribute to Bob Oatley’s love of that equestrian sport. With his brother John, Chris owns the La Colline vineyard on Chalk Hill Road at McLar- en Vale in South Australia and in 2016 released the Hancock & Hancock range of McLaren Vale wines in partnership with the Oatley family.