Doolhof Wine Estate is located in a beautiful, remote valley in the Wellington region. The Bovlei valley is surrounded on three sides by the Groenberg, Limietberge and Hawekwa Mountains.
Over the centuries, Doolhoof has been the jewel in the Bovlei valley. The first settlers were cattle grazers, arriving in the early 1700s. The Huguenots followed, planting grapes for wine and brandy making as early as 1728. The current farm dates back to 1993, when viticulturalist Hendrick Laubscher recognised its potential for high-quality grape growing. The first vines were planted in 1995.
In Afrikaans, Doolhof means ‘labyrinth’, a reference to the elaborate and varied terrain in the valley. This favoured location among the mountains, with its range of soil types and microclimates, ensures that the average temperature is cooler than the Wellington norm. This allows the grapes to develop slowly, resulting in intense fruit and complexity.
In 2003 the Kerrison family purchased the property and set about creating Doolhof Wines. The winery, tasting and storage complex were built and in 2005 the farm was able to claim Wine Estate status; this has now been formally granted and Doolhof now produces an exceptional range of elegant, high quality wines, with distinctive characteristics that reflect their origins.
As one of the region’s new wave estates, Doolhof is maintaining its jewel-like reputation and winning high praise for its wines. The Sauvignon Blanc 2006 received a Double Gold at the Veritas Awards 2006 and the Pinotage 2005 took Gold at the Michelangelo International Awards. The Malbec 2007 (which we plan to add to our list later this year) won a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2009.
