Nigel Dolan,
Saltram Chief Winemaker
 The
Dolan name is an icon of Barossa winemaking. Nigel Dolan
is the current Chief Winemaker at Saltram wines, a position
also held by his late father Brian Dolan from 1954 to 1959.
Nigel was born in 1958 and spent his early years growing
up in the house where he would eventually return – Mamre
Brook house at the Saltram winery in the Barossa, South
Australia.
Such was the influence of his exposure to winemaking through
his father’s passionate work, that he pursued this dream
after leaving school. Studying oenology at the world-famous
Roseworthy College in South Australia, Nigel graduated and
worked for Seppelts Wines in various capacities before joining
Saltram in 1992.
Early in his career at Saltram, Nigel established a reputation
as one of the best winemakers in the Barossa if not South
Australia. While at Saltram Nigel has been named Barossa
Winemaker of the Year, South Australian Red Winemaker of
the Year . Baron of the Barossa and in 2001 he was a finalist
in the Qantas Australian Winemaker of the Year competition.
He has also won Australian wine’s greatest prize, the Jimmy
Watson Trophy, on two occasions, most recently in August
2003.
The most recent winning wine is a new wine in the Saltram
suite called “The Eighth Maker”. Created as a tribute to
the past seven Chief Winemakers at Saltram, Nigel has created
a new benchmark for Barossa Shiraz, creating a classic wine
which captures the tradition of the region.
Saltram’s flagship No. 1 Shiraz is now considered one of
the elite in Barossa Valley Shiraz, while the Mamre Brook
Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz continue to win accolades
and gold medals.
From vintage 2000, Nigel took on a more senior role for
parent company Beringer Blass as Group Red Winemaker while
retaining full control over the style and quality of his
beloved Saltram wines. Dolan’s wines are characterised by
a focus on regional and varietal intensity – they are made
with a firm belief and a deft, masterful touch.
As the creator of the much-loved Pepperjack label, Nigel
has established himself as an artful winemaker in the traditional
mould, and an innovator interested in utilising cutting-edge
winemaking techniques and progressive varietals.
Nigel enjoys boating and fishing when not at Saltram, but
within his winemaking role, he holds humble aspirations
of creating a “decent Riesling and respectable Rosé”.
Winemaker’s full name:
NIGEL ALISTAIR DOLAN
Birth date/place: 28th May 1958
First home was the historic house at Mamre Brook
Secondary education:
Prince Alfred College
Tertiary education:
Bachelor of Applied Science (oenology) Roseworthy
Winemaking employment history – chronology:
1981 - commenced as assistant winemaker at Seppeltsfield
for B.Seppelt & Son Ltd. 1984 - Senior Red winemaker
for Seppelt and Senior Winemaker / Manager Seppelt Barossa.
1992 - onwards Senior Winemaker at Saltram.
Major winemaking trophies/achievements/critical reviews:
1992 & 2003 Jimmy Watson Trophy
1985, 2000 &2003 Stodart Trophy
1996 Montgomery trophy
No 1 Shiraz has received 6 Trophies and 34Gold medals
Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon has since 1996 received 6
Trophies and 13 Gold medals
The Adelaide Advertiser’s Red Winemaker of the Year 1996
Barossa Winemaker of the Year 2000
Baron of the Barossa
Since 1992 Saltram wines have been awarded 20 trophies
and over 70 gold medals at Australian wine shows.
Wine judging experience:
Canberra Wine Show 1986
McLaren Vale Wine Show 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002
Royal Adelaide Show 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,
1998, 1999, 2000
Perth Wine Show 1997, 1999
Griffith Wine Show 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Hyatt Wine Awards 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Barossa wine show 1999, 2001
Hunter Valley wine show 1998, 1999,2000, 2001, 2002
Lilydale wine show 2002
Hobbies/habits/quirks:
Boats, fishing and riesling
Children/partner:
Married with three children and two Labradors
Goals within the industry:
To make great riesling |
