A Story of Terroir & Time

OUR BEGINNING – A STORY OF TERROIR & TIME 

DOWIE DOOLE is a story of two terroirs and time. Our home McLaren Vale, South Australia, has unique, ancient terroirs that produce world-class wines that can proudly challenge the best in the world. DOWIE DOOLE’s Estate Vineyards are in two of McLaren Vale’s most prized terroirs; the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs and the ancient rocks of Tatachilla. With geology as old as 650M years, some of the oldest geology vines are grown anywhere in the world. 

In 1995 DOWIE DOOLE’s founders Drew Dowie and Norm Doole, realising the potential of their estate vineyards, formed a partnership to nurture these two terroirs using Biodynamic techniques to ensure the sustainability of these living landscapes for future generations. The fruit, therefore, truly expresses not only its place but also the environment in which it is grown.  

This story continues, now in the hands of Chief Winemaker Chris Thomas. Drew and Norm, both visionary and passionate about sustainability, saw the need to pass on DOWIE DOOLE to the next generation for the story to continue. In 2015, 20 years after foundation Drew and Norm knew the passion that their winemaker Chris carried for the story to continue, so they gave him the opportunity to purchase DOWIE DOOLE. Chris and a group of like-minded wine enthusiasts purchased DOWIE DOOLE in 2015. Norm Doole still remains involved as a shareholder and chairman of DOWIE DOOLE. 

A NEW ERA FOR DOWIE DOOLE 

Like our founders, we believe that what makes DOWIE DOOLE special is the unique terroirs, the land and the environment that grows wine grapes of world-class quality from which we craft our wines. We also had the vision to be 100% estate grown, controlling every berry from the ground up. To do this, we needed to expand our estate. So, since 2015 we have purchased 35 hectares of vineyard at Tatachilla, neighbouring founder Norm Doole’s California Road vineyard. This new vineyard adds 10 hectares of old vine grenache, planted in 1965, to the estate. The vineyard’s Rock Paddock block is also gifted with some of McLaren Vale’s oldest and rarest geology, being 650M years old.  

In 2018 the neighbouring vineyard to founder Drew Dowie’s Tintookie vineyard at Blewitt Springs was acquired, adding 29 hectares of vineyard to the estate. This allows us to maintain a balance between the Mediterranean climate of Tatachilla and the cool sandy slopes of Blewitt Springs. 

As part of this new era for DOWIE DOOLE, a vision for the DOWIE DOOLE Tasting Pod emerged. To deliver an immersive wine experience demonstrating the best of the Australian lifestyle and to proudly showcase the world-class quality of Australian Wine, McLaren Vale, and DOWIE DOOLE’s unique terroirs; to visitors from Australia and all over the world. His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, Governor of South Australia, opened the Tasting Pod on the 18th of November 2019. 

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Liquor Licence Number: 57602594