Doolhof General Manager, Daan Coetzee, participated in “The Great South African Wine Show” that was arranged by WOSA – Wines of South Africa, the industry body charged with promoting South African wine in overseas markets. The show was held in New York City on 13 May 2010, in a restored factory building in the Tribeca area, that offered spectacular views over the East River.

Daan writes that the event, which had a South African theme, due to the use of large displays of fresh proteas, was very well attended by the wine trade in New York City and further afield, which came to taste the wines of about 185 producers.

The trade show was held during the day and was followed by a consumer tasting in the evening. From a promotional perspective and getting the proverbial bang for your buck, the evening tasting for consumers was a very sensible arrangement by the organisers, as it maximised the impact of having so many South African producers who are already present during the day, at the evening event. All this, for the price of a few bottles of wine and a late dinner. It is generic marketing at its best and only a pity that it cannot be done more often and in more venues.

Out of the Doolhof selection, it was clear that Doolhof’s Dark Lady Pinotage was a winner. One taster described the wine as the full American breakfast: “Coffee and Mocha on the nose followed by strong berry flavours on the palate, with a hint of smoked bacon on the after taste”. Both the trade and consumers also liked the Cape Roan which received 89 points out of a total 100 points, in Wine Enthusiast magazine.

It is heartening to hear that wine consumption is growing in the USA year on year, but as a South African producer one despairs of the ignorance and indifference to South African wines in the trade. It is quite the norm to see South African wines relegated to the back shelf or bottom shelf in retail outlets. It is also seldom that one sees more than a couple of SA wines on a wine list.

Fortunately there are retail and restaurant outlets that have a decent SA offering. Amongst the retail outlets visited in New York City, Astor Wines at 399 Lafayette Street and Union Square Wine and Spirits on 4th Avenue stand out. Sherry-Lehman, the upmarket wine retailer on Park Avenue that offers “free delivery in the Hamptons” also has a tidy SA list in their catalogue which is mostly filled with pages and pages of French wines and Super Tuscans.

Although it is early days in the American market, Doolhof is fortunate to have been able to team up with the newly established Worthwhile Wines, www.worthwhilewine.com, an importer that will concentrate on South African wines. They will be importing our wines into the USA . Tom Lynch, the founder of Worthwhile Wines and his team, are working diligently to appoint distributors in each of the key markets of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida. Small volumes of Signatures of Doolhof Cabernet Sauvignon are also imported and distributed in Texas and Washington DC.

Doolhof is excited about its potential for growth in the US market and looks forward to solid growth in this exciting, yet complicated market.

The 2010 harvest (at Doolhof Wine Estate) provided the highest yield for many years, despite strong wind storms in October 2009, damaging leaves and shoots on some of the red varietals.  This impacted on the ripening programme.  However, there are signs that the 2010 harvest may approach the 2009 super vintage.

Doolhof experienced a high rainfall (64mm) between January and March that ensured good vineyards by counteracting the abnormally long heatwave we had.

Harvesting began on 1 February 2010 and excellent quality grapes were picked and pressed.  Most of the white varietals’ yields were up and we believe that they are noteworthy in terms of quality.

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes were picked before the heat of the day.  Four different Sauvignon Blanc tank wines were produced, each with different yeast, adding to the complexity of the final wine.  The best tanks with the best aromas will be blended to make the 2010 Signatures of Doolhof Sauvignon Blanc.

The Chardonnay was harvested between middle and end February.  Both tank and barrel fermented wines have been made.

The reds ripened quickly with Merlot, the first varietal picked.  It shows great potential, as does the Malbec that yielded more than twice the tonnage this year than last year.  Pinotage was also a large crop and exhibits typical varietal characteristics while the Shiraz promises to be an outstanding wine, although it was a small yield.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon will be the best ever made on Doolhof!  Small berries with dark purple colours and blackberry and cassis aromas are evident of excellence.  The same can be said about the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Both these varietals were harvested at the end of the season (end of March) and will make rich, complex wines as varietals and/or for blending.

To conclude, the white varietal wines are excellent while the red varietal wines show good quality fruit and colour with intense aromas at this stage.

Doolhof Wine Estate is offering a fun-filled time at the Wellington Wine Harvest Festival between 20 and 22 March 2010.  An international potjiekos competition and live music with Janine Vos, Newton Theron and Ivan van der Merwe are highlights on the Saturday, with grape-stomping, vineyard rides, food stalls and vineyard and river walks promising relaxation and fun for young and old alike.

See if you can out-cycle your friends!  Sunday, 21 March, is your chance on the Wilde Day Mountain Bike Race over 40 km from Diemersfontein estate to Doolhof.  There’ll be live music with Tropical Heat, boules and food & wine stalls to satisfy and quench thirsty cyclists and spectators.  Register now for this event on the Cape Epic 2010 website.

…and to round off a memorable weekend, why not pamper yourself on the Monday – a public holiday – with a Grande Dédale Jazz lunch on the verandah of this luxurious Country House, prepared by the resident chef?  Bookings are essential on 021 873 4089 or info@granddedale.com.

For the energetic there are walks and vineyard rides and, of course, wine tastings of award winning wines and opportunities aplenty to purchase them!

If you would like to enter our Potjiekos Competition, please download the entry form here.

The Minotaur, released in early October 2009, is a distinctive Cape red blend of six varietals in which Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon predominate, alongside Petit Verdot, Pinotage and Shiraz.

Doolhof is the Afrikaans word for labyrinth, hence naming the estate’s top range after the ancient Cretan tale of King Minos’s Labyrinth.

The wine was produced from top quality, hand picked grapes from the estate’s premier vineyards. Different grape varietals were fermented separately with extended maceration on the skins after fermentation. Only the best barrels were selected for this wine, which was matured in 225 litre French oak barrels for 14 months, before bottling in September 2008.

The Minotaur has an intense, dark plum colour with aromas and flavours of black currants, almonds, cherries and mint. This is a well balanced, full-bodied wine with well integrated tannins. Only 3 400 bottles have been produced and the wine is expected to drink well up to 2022.

Over the past year, Doolhof’s wines continued to notch up gold medals.

Doolhof Wine Estate’s newest release – and its flagship red blend – The Minotaur 2007, won a double gold medal at Veritas, South Africa’s national wine awards in October. The news was announced just days after it was released to the Press and general public. The Minotaur also won a gold medal at this year’s Michelangelo Wine Awards in September.

The 2007 Signatures of Doolhof Malbec varietal wine won four golds, two of which were double golds, in just four months!

Doolhof’s 2007 Pinotage won a double gold medal at the Michelangelo Awards, while the 2009 Signatures of Doolhof Sauvignon Blanc won silver at this competition.

The Doolhof Tasting Room is open seven days per week, with light lunches offered from Tuesday to Sunday, as well as daily picnics.  The venue’s opening hours and menus are available on here.

The Dark Lady, Doolhof’s mocha-style Pinotage, has gone from strength to strength since its release in May 2009.  Excellent Press reviews, a listing in Pick ‘n Pay family stores nationwide and availability in select liquor stores, have ensured its place as a leader of this style of Pinotage.