Ian Macrae
About Us
Mick started work at RVIC in 1998 and is now Operations Manager, responsible for managing all activities on the site. In his 26 years at RVIC, Mick has acquired vast knowledge and experience in vine propagation, varieties and clones and is widely acknowledged and respected as a guru in this field and is a key asset to the RVIC team. When ordering vines through RVIC you will most likely chat to Mick. You will find him familiar with the vast range of vinifera and rootstock varieties and clones at RVIC, rootstock and scion compatibilities and their suitability to any particular site, soil type or region. When he’s not at work he will most likely be out in his boat fishing or on the coast catching squid.Mick Sewell
Chelsea started at RVIC in 2014 at the age of 21. Starting out as an administration trainee, she has learnt the ropes and been involved with many projects and developments over the past 10 years. Chelsea now holds the position of Administration Manager. If she’s not the first voice you hear on the phone, she is most likely entering orders and data, creating invoices or processing payroll. Chelsea is currently working part time while she juggles her young children. On the weekends Chelsea and the family will be either boating, camping or catching up on jobs at home. Rick Spencer
Rick began at RVIC in 2001 so qualifies as another ‘senior’ team member alongside Mick. As Vineyard Manager, Rick oversees the 80 hectares of established vinifera and rootstock vines and the nursery. Rick’s day to day varies and could include scheduling irrigation, fixing a pump, greasing something in the maintenance shed, supervising his team or somewhere in the vineyard getting his hands dirty. As a vineyard owner himself, Rick is well aware of the challenges within the industry. Rick often joins Mick on boating trips which tends to lead to arguments on who the better fisherman is.Patrick Showell
Patrick joined RVIC as Technical Manager in 2025. He worked previously in the wine industry in production-based roles for the past 13 years and prior to that in finance and accounting roles for 6 years. Patrick is responsible for driving the continuous improvement at RVIC, and being a small team, can equally be found in vineyard or office helping wherever needed. In addition, he manages the South Australian Vine Improvement Association germplasm collection hosted at the RVIC site. Outside of work life Patrick has a vineyard at Renmark and is a committee member of Riverland Wine Grape Growers Associations.Chelsea Stoeckel
Ian has been a member of the RVIC committee for many years and is now chairman and executive manager (part time) of the business. Ian brings a wealth of experience to RVIC having many years of experience in the grape and wine industry; viticultural extension officer with the (then) Department of Agriculture in Victoria, viticultural consultant in warm and cool wine growing regions, undertaken research in such fields as propagation, minimal pruning, and restricted deficit irrigation, vineyard manager and grape supply manager for Kingston Estate Wines, senior viticulturist for CCW, viticulturist for Accolade Wines and now, at RVIC.