Dowie Doole was founded in 1995 by Drew Dowie and Norm Doole. They have been connected to McLaren Vale community for many years and are renowned grape growers in the region managing truly unique vineyards. Since 2011 their wines have been made by the talented Chris Thomas. Dowie Doole’s winemaking philosophy is to produce elegant fruit-driven wines that encapsulate the essence of the vineyards in which they were grown and the vintage in which they have been produced. In short, Dowie Doole captures each wines sense of place in a bottle. Dowie Doole have two vineyards, one in the Tatachilla sub region of McLaren Vale, and the other in the sub region of Blewitt Springs.
Chris Thomas is the Chief Winemaker and Managing Director of Dowie Doole with a passion for McLaren Vale and the diversity of the varietals in the region. Chris’s appreciation for wine and McLaren Vale came from his parents and many weekend visits to cellar doors in the region. Chris Graduated in Oenology from the University of Adelaide in 2003 and has a wealth of experience working for top wineries in McLaren Vale as well as in Burgundy, France. Chris joined Dowie Doole in 2011 and in 2015 Chris purchased the winery with a group of like-minded shareholders. Chris is responsible for many highly acclaimed wines, winning trophies and numerous gold medals. Chris has led Dowie Doole to be a 5-star winery and in 2015 it was recognised as one of the “Ten Dark Horses”. When not at home making wine, Chris travels the world; South East Asia, China, Hong Kong, China, UK, Germany and on and on. A third of the year, Chris is out pounding the pavement, sharing his love for Australian wine.
The Dowie Doole Tasting Pod cellar door opened in November 2019 and is one of the most unique and immersive cellar door experiences in McLaren Vale.