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Some say you have to be born into wine, but all family legacies have a beginning.
darren rathbone
CEO & Group Winemaker
Darren’s relationship with wine began at home, where food and wine were a natural part of family life within the Rathbone household. Those early moments around the table quietly shaped a curiosity that would grow into a lifelong pursuit.
After graduating in Chemical Engineering, his path took a decisive turn when his father, Doug Rathbone, and uncle, Graeme, purchased a vineyard in the Yarra Valley. Darren’s first work in wine was simple and physical. He started planting vines at the site later named Laura Barnes in honour of their great grandmother. It was here that his enthusiasm for wine became unmistakable.
Yering Station became the place where that early momentum found focus. Darren helped shape the estate from the ground up by building the winery, establishing vineyards, developing a highly awarded tourism experience, and nurturing a team that remains central to its identity today.
His curiosity for wine led him further abroad in 1999, when he was accepted into a Master of Science in Oenology at UC Davis in California, graduating in 2002. He then spent time working in some of the world’s most respected wine regions, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and Napa Valley.
Returning to Australia, Darren continued to grow the family business, overseeing the acquisition of Mount Langi Ghiran in 2003 and Xanadu in 2005. Today, Darren is CEO and Group Winemaker.
Doug Rathbone
Chairman
Doug Rathbone is a respected figure in Australian business and agriculture, with a career spanning engineering, agribusiness and innovation. With a background in Chemical Engineering, he has long operated at the intersection of industry, science and large-scale agricultural systems. Across decades of leadership, Doug has played a significant role in shaping modern approaches to technology in Australian farming. His work has positioned him as a considered voice in the evolution of Australian agribusiness.
Within wine, Doug’s entrepreneurial mindset recognised early that the family’s interest was fast evolving beyond a hobby. He laid the foundations for what would become Rathbone Family Wines, working alongside Darren in the acquisition of the three estates. Today, his influence is reflected in the group’s structured growth, technical discipline and enduring respect for land and legacy.
Brad Rathbone
Export Director
Brad Rathbone’s relationship with wine has developed alongside the evolution of the family’s wine portfolio, shaped by exposure to commercial, winemaking and hospitality functions of the business from an early age. Brad played a key role in supporting the growth and integration of Yering Station, Mount Langi Ghiran and Xanadu into the family business, leading a variety of functions and teams as the portfolio expanded.
Today, Brad continues to contribute to the direction of Rathbone Family Wines, supporting its long-term growth. Brad brings a strategic and operational lens to the group’s ongoing development in international markets, specifically China.
