A New Wave Giant
13 January 2020

Donovan Rall is one of the key figures in South Africa’s explosive New Wave movement. One of the original “garagista” producers in the Swartland, Donovan can now proudly say that he makes some of the most highly sought-after wines in the country. Well-travelled, affable and ambitious, he trained at the University of Stellenbosch in viticulture and enology then worked in wineries across Europe and New Zealand before returning to South Africa in 2007 to work with Eben Sadie. A year later, Donovan had six barrels tucked away under his own name, and the inaugural Rall White 2008 was born. Immediately awarded 5-Stars by Platter’s in that year’s publication, Donovan grasped the opportunity to strike out on his own and he hasn’t looked back, buying up small parcels of top-quality fruit, developing a reputation as a master blender and fine tuning his own winemaking style. His roster of small batch, subtle, and sensitively produced fine wines have been a veritable hit parade, and for a long time he has been on every wine critic’s list of producers to watch.

Detail, transparency and silken textures are the Rall signatures, and his winemaking comprises natural, spontaneous fermentations with no additives or adjustments, carried out in used oak and concrete, with varying proportions of whole bunches depending on the variety. These are beautiful, textured wines of grace and agility. Justerini & Brooks is delighted to be the new importers for Rall Wines as of January 2020 and it is with great pleasure that we offer his latest releases today.