Prof. Christmann received her M.Sc in Oenology and her doctor in Agricultural Sciences from the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Germany in 1985 and 1988. Then she was Quality Control/R&D Manager at Sichel Winery in Alzey, Germany and then from 1991-1993, she was Laboratory Director and Member of Winemaking Teams at the SIMI Winery in Healdsburg, California.

Since 1994, Prof. Christmann is Head of Department for Oenology and Wine Technology including the Estate Winery at the Geisenheim Research Institute. She presents oenology lectures at University of applied Sciences Wiesbaden in Geisenheim and at the Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen. In addition, she is lecturing in continuing professional training programs in Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Finland.

Since 1995, Prof. Christmann is a German Delegate at the „International Organisation for Vine and Wine“ (OIV) in Paris, from 2004-2010, she was the president of the OIV expert group „Wine Technology” and from 2009-2012, the President of the OIV Oenology Commission. Furthermore, she is member of the Board of Directors at Geisenheim Research Institute and Head of Institute I in Grape Breeding, Viticulture and Oenology.