Rall Wines 'White', Coastal Region, South Africa 2024 (Hella Chenin!)
Donovan Rall is a first-generation winemaker born in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, who studied genetics and psychology at Stellenbosch before pivoting to viticulture and enology — graduating in 2005 alongside Jean Smit (Damascene) and David Sadie (David & Nadia). International harvests at Cloudy Bay in New Zealand and in the Rhône Valley were followed by formative stints with Miles Mossop at Tokara and Eben Sadie at Sadie Family Wines. He launched Rall Wines in 2008 with a small number of barrels; his debut White immediately earned a five-star rating in Platter's Wine Guide. Rall does not own vineyards, instead partnering closely with growers across the Western Cape — in many cases taking over farming responsibilities himself — and working alongside celebrated viticulturist Rosa Kruger to identify exceptional old-vine sites. Each harvest he manages close to 60 separate fermentations across neutral oak, foudre, concrete eggs, and 500-liter Stockinger barrels, giving him an extraordinary palette of blending material. He was named South Africa's Winemaker of the Year 2025. Donovan and his Swartland contemporaries — among them Eben Sadie, the Mullineuxs, and AA Badenhorst — were central figures in the Swartland Revolution, a defining early-2000s shift away from Stellenbosch Bordeaux dominance and toward site-driven, minimal-intervention wines from forgotten grapes and regions.
- Winemaker: Donovan Rall
- Farming: Minimal intervention, grower partnerships with direct farming involvement across multiple regions of the Western Cape. Close collaboration with viticulturist Rosa Kruger for old-vine site identification.
- Variety: Chenin Blanc 69%, Verdelho 29%, Viognier 2%
- Terroir: Fruit sourced from granitic soils — a defining substrate of the Swartland and surrounding regions — known for driving tension, texture, and mineral purity in white wines. The granitic bedrock forces vine roots deep, concentrating flavor while naturally moderating vigor. Sources span multiple regions including the Swartland, Wellington, Piekenierskloof, Ceres Plateau, and Darling; each variety fermented and aged separately before blending.
- Vinification: Each variety naturally fermented and matured separately. Aged in a combination of neutral French oak (500L barrels), foudre, and concrete for 10–11 months before blending. First vintage sealed under technical cork.
- Aging: 11 months in neutral French oak, foudre, and concrete. No new oak. Blended at 10 months; bottled under technical cork.
- Tasting Notes: Limey, pithy, and bright. Chenin Blanc leads with citrus, yellow stone fruit, and a subtle creamy note; Verdelho contributes lift and a salty-citrus snap; Viognier adds a whisper of aromatic depth. Well balanced with a lightly spiced, pithy entry, fine weight, and an oily, mouthwatering finish of considerable length. Drink over the next decade.
- Food Pairings: Grilled prawns, seared scallops, lemon-herb chicken, and citrus-driven salads with fresh herbs.
- Scores: 91 Vinous
Our May, 2026 Bottle of the Month!
Rall Wines 'White', Coastal Region, South Africa 2024 (Hella Chenin!)
Donovan Rall is a first-generation winemaker born in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, who studied genetics and psychology at Stellenbosch before pivoting to viticulture and enology — graduating in 2005 alongside Jean Smit (Damascene) and David Sadie (David & Nadia). International harvests at Cloudy Bay in New Zealand and in the Rhône Valley were followed by formative stints with Miles Mossop at Tokara and Eben Sadie at Sadie Family Wines. He launched Rall Wines in 2008 with a small number of barrels; his debut White immediately earned a five-star rating in Platter's Wine Guide. Rall does not own vineyards, instead partnering closely with growers across the Western Cape — in many cases taking over farming responsibilities himself — and working alongside celebrated viticulturist Rosa Kruger to identify exceptional old-vine sites. Each harvest he manages close to 60 separate fermentations across neutral oak, foudre, concrete eggs, and 500-liter Stockinger barrels, giving him an extraordinary palette of blending material. He was named South Africa's Winemaker of the Year 2025. Donovan and his Swartland contemporaries — among them Eben Sadie, the Mullineuxs, and AA Badenhorst — were central figures in the Swartland Revolution, a defining early-2000s shift away from Stellenbosch Bordeaux dominance and toward site-driven, minimal-intervention wines from forgotten grapes and regions.
- Winemaker: Donovan Rall
- Farming: Minimal intervention, grower partnerships with direct farming involvement across multiple regions of the Western Cape. Close collaboration with viticulturist Rosa Kruger for old-vine site identification.
- Variety: Chenin Blanc 69%, Verdelho 29%, Viognier 2%
- Terroir: Fruit sourced from granitic soils — a defining substrate of the Swartland and surrounding regions — known for driving tension, texture, and mineral purity in white wines. The granitic bedrock forces vine roots deep, concentrating flavor while naturally moderating vigor. Sources span multiple regions including the Swartland, Wellington, Piekenierskloof, Ceres Plateau, and Darling; each variety fermented and aged separately before blending.
- Vinification: Each variety naturally fermented and matured separately. Aged in a combination of neutral French oak (500L barrels), foudre, and concrete for 10–11 months before blending. First vintage sealed under technical cork.
- Aging: 11 months in neutral French oak, foudre, and concrete. No new oak. Blended at 10 months; bottled under technical cork.
- Tasting Notes: Limey, pithy, and bright. Chenin Blanc leads with citrus, yellow stone fruit, and a subtle creamy note; Verdelho contributes lift and a salty-citrus snap; Viognier adds a whisper of aromatic depth. Well balanced with a lightly spiced, pithy entry, fine weight, and an oily, mouthwatering finish of considerable length. Drink over the next decade.
- Food Pairings: Grilled prawns, seared scallops, lemon-herb chicken, and citrus-driven salads with fresh herbs.
- Scores: 91 Vinous
Our May, 2026 Bottle of the Month!