Newsletter July 2007
Dear winelovers and friends,
As usual things are on the move at Rainbow’s End. On the eastern side of the main house we have started with the re-establishment of the Fynbos. A large strip of alien vegetation ( Wattle, Bluegum, Pine and Port Jackson ) has been bulldozed out and burnt. Now follows years of pulling out the alien seedlings as they re-germinate and nursing the natural fynbos as it gradually re-establishes itself. We are excited about the prospect of having the Cape floral kingdom once again on our doorstep.
The Cape winter has been wet and cold and good so far for winefarmers with more rain in June on Rainbow’s End than in the past 10 years ( 207mm ! ) and light snowfalls on the surrounding mountains.
In the vineyards Francois and his team are busy pruning and should have completed this very important task by about the first week in September.
His brother, Anton, is optimistic about the 2007 wines ( especially the Cabernet Franc and Merlot), and for the first time Malbec and Petit Verdot has been added to the Rainbow’s End range and looks promising. The 2006 Cabernet Franc, released in June 2007, is selling out fast and seems very popular.
We have also exported our first wines to Sweden, and back here in Africa to Namibia —Â following a visit to the Namibian Tourism Expo in Windhoek. The latter being an annual event well supported by everyone in the tourism trade in mainly Namibia but also elsewhere, and offered an excellent business networking opportunity. Jacques and Ingrid attended the expo and worked hard, sold all the wine they took, exported some more from S.A., made contacts and managed to squeeze in a visit to Etosha game reserve, view the animals and nature and re-charge their batteries.
Keep well, have fun, and enjoy your wine, the Rainbow’s End Team.