Doolhof means labyrinth in Afrikaans. In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure constructed for King Minos of Crete and designed by the legendary artificer Daedalus to hold the Minotaur, a creature that was half man and half bull and which was eventually killed by the Athenian hero, Theseus. Daedalus had made the labyrinth so cunningly that he himself could barely escape it after he built it. Labyrinths, as opposed to mazes, offer only one entry and exit point – a single pathway to the centre. From time immemorial, Labyrinths have been utilised as a form of meditation. By focusing on the pathway and the intricate turns one calms the mind and realigns the thoughts. When Settlers first set sight on this magical valley in the early 18th Century they noted the many hills and vales and aptly named it Doolhof. Today, this labyrinthine topography is harmonised with the positioning of our vineyards, making good use of the many micro-climates and terroirs which are ultimately expressed in the Doolhof Estate wines. The beautiful, remote and historic valley, north-east of Wellington, that contains Doolhof is surrounded by the Groenberg, Limietberge and Hawekwa mountains. In 1707 the first settlers grazed cattle here. Permits were granted from 1709 and land granted in 1712. Grapes for wine and brandy making were introduced by Huguenot settlers as early as 1728. Due to Doolhof being surrounded on three sides by mountains and having no main route into the hinterland of South Africa, Andrew Geddes Bain built Bainskloof Pass in the 1840s, a famous pass which allowed access and expansion. For part of the project, Bain lived on Doolhof and today the wine estate traverses Bainskloof.

Location

Wellington, South Africa

Web Site

www.doolhof.com