Doug became interested in geology and soils in relation to vineyards - that is, terroir - as a result of two converging influences. He became a wine enthusiast at the tender age of 16, and this eventually led to his present involvement with Winewise Magazine, of which he was a Director, tasting panel member, wine show judge and writer for 12 years.

As a geologist, he became interested in terroir after reading the book Terroirs et Vins de France, and compiling a "Geological Dozen" - wines from 12 vineyards each underlain by rocks of a different geological age period. From then on, it became increasingly apparent that the concept of terroir -

            that in a vineyard, the geology (rock and soil) has a definite, if subtle, influence on wine, and that various
          grape varieties respond better to certain soil "types" (compositions & underlying rock type) than to others

- has general validity, and is not just a peculiarly French, or European, concept.

Through his 12 years as a Director, tasting panel member, and writer with Winewise Magazine, Doug developed a considerable knowledge and appreciation of wine, and considerable expertise in its critical assessment. He has built up an extensive knowledge of the Australian wine industry - in particular of its vineyards, their soils, and aspects of viticulture. Doug has also visited numerous vineyards in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, South Africa and, most recently, Chile.

In 1999, after a 36-year career as a geologist in the Bureau of Mineral Resources and (since 1991) the Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Doug took up the offer of a position as Visiting Fellow in the Department of Geology (now Department of Earth and Marine Sciences) at the Australian National University (ANU) to pursue his passionate interest in soils, wine, and terroir. At ANU he has been involved since 1999 principally with research into the role of soil inorganic composition in determining the composition of wine grapes, with funding from the Grape and Wine Research & Development Corporation.

In 2000, he took up a grant from the French government to spend two months studying the vineyards and wines of the central Loire Valley and northern Burgundy. In the Loire Valley, he was based at the UVV (Unité expérimentale Vigne et Vin) of INRA (Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique) in Angers, where he worked with René Morlat (a pioneer in the scientific approach to terroir) and colleagues. In Burgundy, he was based in Dijon, at the Institut Jules Guyot (IUVV - Institut Universitaire de la Vigne et du Vin, Jules Guyot), and worked with Robert Lautel and Noël Leneuf (co-authors of Terroirs et Vins de France), Michel Feuillat, and Francis Andreux (Département des Sciences de la Terre, Université de Bourgogne). The experience in France strengthened his conviction that geology and soil composition do indeed have an influence on flavour and quality characteristics of grapes and wine - although, of course, they are far from being the only influences.

Along with his research work at ANU, visits to wineries and vineyards in South Africa in 2001, Spain and France (Provence, Bordeaux) in 2004 and Chile in 2005, and consulting work in various parts of Australia (Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, and Gulgong) further strengthened his conviction that soil composition and geology are very influential components of terroir.

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