Over time, Rall has developed a reputation as a master blender, and fine-tuned his style in pursuit of more vivid, fresher wines. His success in that pursuit has placed him in high demand as a consultant to various estates around the country. For the Rall Wines project though, he works primarily in the Swartland, where, with a handshake and a few helpful introductions, he has contracted a combination of small, top-quality old-vine parcels and larger, well-established vineyards which he shares, in typically collaborative fashion, with leading producers such as Chris Alheit, Duncan Savage and David Sadie. Moreover, he has been involved in planting new vineyards and varieties so as to safeguard quality for the next generation. To that palette he adds prime fruit from the Piekenierskloof, Darling and Stellenbosch regions.

A huge advocate for both terroir and texture in his wines, Donovan’s beautiful range speaks to the rich, often schist, but also granite-inflected fruit and minerality of truly individual old-vine sites. He adapts cellar work to suit the nature and variety in each plot, but natural, spontaneous fermentations and no additions whatsoever (other than a touch of sulphur at bottling) is a given. Aging takes place in different vessels including concrete eggs, larger casks, used barriques, and even clay amphora. This is small batch, sensitive South African winemaking at its apogee.