A bottle of good wine can help solve many problems. At least that was the thinking of friends Norm Doole and Drew Dowie as they watched the sun rise after enduring a cold, all-night session harvesting some of their fruit during the difficult 1995 vintage.

Seeing their grapes being trucked away to other wineries that particular morning frustrated Norm and Drew, because they had no control of their fruit. This vision provoked a turning point in their business relationship. Over a bottle of wine at breakfast Norm and Drew decided to form a partnership to take charge of all aspects of growing grapes; from making, bottling and selling their own wine.

Today the pair are committed to growing and making elegant "classic" regional McLaren Vale wines. Dowie Doole utilises only estate-grown fruit with wine making placed under the direction of renowned winemaker Brian Light.