Close
Inside the Stories, Passions and People That Shape an Australian Icon
High in the Grampians, where fog drifts through ancient granite slopes and vines cling to ridgelines, Mount Langi Ghiran has always been defined by its landscape. But the true heart of Langi isn’t the mountain, or the vines, or even the wines themselves. It’s the people.
Every bottle that leaves this remote corner of Victoria carries the fingerprints of a small, dedicated team of people who have each contributed their own story to Langi’s evolution. Some have spent decades here. Others arrived from worlds far beyond the wine industry, bringing new energy, curiosity and perspectives that continue to move Langi forward.
Adam Louder — Chief Winemaker
A Grampians Local Guided by Experience, Instinct and Place
For Chief Winemaker Adam Louder, Langi isn’t just a workplace — it’s home. Born and raised in the Grampians, he first joined Mount Langi Ghiran in 1998 as a young cellar hand under legendary winemaker Trevor Mast. Working alongside such an influential figure in cool‑climate Shiraz ignited something lasting: a deep respect for craft, patience, and the power of site‑driven winemaking.
Eager to broaden his perspective, Adam spent years working harvests across Bordeaux, the Napa Valley, the Pyrenees, and Margaret River — including at Langi’s sister winery Xanadu. These diverse experiences sharpened his understanding of technique, technology and the global benchmarks for quality.
But the pull of home was stronger. Adam returned to the Grampians in 2016, bringing with him the knowledge of 32 harvests. Two years later, he became Chief Winemaker.
Today, Adam describes Langi as a site that’s “impossible to replicate” — a place where a long, slow growing season builds layered complexity and where nature’s drama is always part of the story. He leads the winemaking team with quiet confidence and a collaborative spirit, working side‑by‑side with his team to continually refine Langi’s hallmark style.
The recent critically acclaimed vintages reflect his steady hand and deep understanding of what makes Langi, Langi.
Liz Ladhams — Winemaker
A Career Reinvented Through Passion, Precision and Purpose
Long before she made wine, Liz Ladhams built a global career in finance, working on Wall Street and living between London, Hong Kong and New York. But after two decades, she chose a different path — one that aligned more closely with her values and curiosity.
Returning to Australia, she began a Winemaking & Viticulture degree at La Trobe University, and in 2019 joined Langi for harvest work. It didn’t take long for the team to notice her exceptional attention to detail, analytical mind, and commitment to precision. She was soon offered a winemaking role, working closely with Adam to shape the next chapter of Langi’s cool climate wines.
Liz describes Langi as a place defined by “focus, quality and integrity” — qualities she naturally brings to her work. Her contributions extend beyond winemaking: she leads the estate’s sustainability agenda with pride, ensuring Langi’s environmental practices meet the high standards set by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. She also serves on the committee for the Western Victoria Wine Challenge, bringing her thoughtful, measured approach to the broader regional community.
Her journey from global finance to hands‑on winemaking speaks to the heart of Langi: passion and a commitment to continual improvement and growth.
Damien Sheehan — Viticulturist
Three Decades of Stewardship and a Lifelong Devotion to the Vines
Some people find wine through science, some through craft — but for viticulturist Damien Sheehan, it began with romance. The romance of the landscape, of seasons shifting, of vines that need patience and understanding.
With over 35 years in the industry — and now in his 30th at Langi — Damien has experienced every extreme the Grampians can deliver: droughts, floods, late frosts, long cool seasons and everything in between. Through it all, he’s seen Langi produce remarkable fruit, often against the odds. “Sometimes all you need is a great site, great vines and a friendly climate,” he says. “Langi continues to cast its spell on all who work here.”
Damien first spoke to Trevor Mast when considering a career in viticulture, and the encouragement he received set him on the path that ultimately led to his dream job — joining Langi in 1996. His knowledge of the vineyard is encyclopaedic, shaped by decades of walking every row, understanding how each block behaves in different seasons, and adapting his approach without ever losing respect for what the land wants to express.
His work underpins everything the winemaking team creates. The consistency, quality and resilience of Langi’s fruit — especially in recent acclaimed vintages — are a direct reflection of Damien’s dedication and deep connection to place.
Darren Rathbone — CEO & Winemaker
A Vision Shaped by Curiosity, Science and Global Perspective
For Darren Rathbone, wine wasn’t a family legacy passed down through generations — it was a discovery. In the mid‑1990s, while completing a chemical engineering degree, he helped his family plant 28 acres of vines in the Yarra Valley. What began as a summer project quickly became something more: a realisation that the blend of science, craft and agriculture offered a lifelong challenge worth pursuing.
After earning his engineering degree, Darren set out to deepen his skills the only way winemakers truly can — by working harvests around the world. From the cellars of Château Lynch‑Bages in Bordeaux to the precision‑driven wineries of Napa Valley and the historic domaines of Burgundy and Champagne, he gained a global perspective on technique, terroir and the pursuit of excellence. During this time he completed a Master of Science in Enology at UC Davis, adding formal technical expertise to hands‑on experience.
Returning to Australia, Darren helped lead the formation of Rathbone Wine Group and later steered the acquisition of Mount Langi Ghiran in 2003 — a site whose potential he believed in deeply. And still does.
His guiding philosophy at Langi is simple but ambitious: continually improve wine quality while honouring the unique character of the site and the vision of the late Trevor Mast. Completing an MBA in 2011 reflected his commitment to not just better winemaking, but better leadership.
Under Darren’s direction, Langi has refined its cool‑climate style, strengthened its sustainability approach, and earned outstanding critical recognition — a testament to a lifetime spent learning, striving and quietly shaping one of Australia’s great wine stories.
Shaping Langi’s Future — Together
Mount Langi Ghiran is built on more than a stunning site. It’s built on people: their experiences, their ideas, their patience and their belief in what this place can be.
This team — Adam, Liz, Damien and Darren — represents decades of craftsmanship, global perspective, sustainable thinking and a shared commitment to continual improvement. Their work has ushered in a period of renewed critical acclaim, with recent vintages celebrated for purity, precision and unmistakable site expression.
As Langi continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: the heart of the estate isn’t just the mountain or the vines. It’s the people who care for them.
