Douglas Moodie started his association with Elgin in 1930 when, at the age of 18, he cycled from Cape Town to Elgin for a job interview with Harry Blackburn, owner of Eikenhof farm. As a young manager, he learnt to farm apples, pears, plums and peaches and thereafter never left the Valley, dedicating his life to the development of Eikenhof farm and the Elgin Valley.
He pioneered developments in irrigation, spraying techniques and chemicals, was involved in the establishment of the first joint venture pack-house, The Elgin Fruit Company, which soon expanded to become Two-a-Day and secured the water supply essential for the long-term stability of Eikenhof, Graymead and the surrounding farms. With Jimmy Rawbone Viljoen (father of Elgin Vintners partner James Rawbone Viljoen), he co-founded the first local English medium Elgin Preparatory School, which served the area for at least thirty years, protected and expanded the fynbos and indigenous forests planted by Mr Harry Blackburn and more.
After acquiring the farm Eikenhof from Blackburn in 1969, his son Alastair joined him in 1971 and since then they have worked together developing Eikenhof and building the Melsetter Group, a family-owned agri-business with interests in the fruit and poultry industries. Douglas retired from the board of directors at 90, but continues to live at Eikenhof and still visits the office on a regular basis to find out what is happening on the farm and in the community. During his retirement, he also took on the challenge of becoming computer literate and wrote his memoirs on a computer.
Douglas was responsible for the foundation of the highest standards of quality and environmental integrity at Eikenhof, which his son continues to uphold and perpetuate, as foreseen by his father. Eikenhof was awarded BWI Championship status by the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative in 2010.
The blend was created as a salute to an industry icon and a true gentleman who was and still is always thinking of others, who witnessed the evolution of the Elgin Valley from 1930 and whose far-reaching vision made the valley what it is.
The Elgin Vintners Century Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011 retails nationally for approximately R135.
