What’s In A Name
“Rainbow's End” is the name of the Malan family’s wine estate near Stellenbosch. It is a name that conjures up associations, and among these are the divine promise of sunshine after rain, of commitment to the earth, of a destination and a pot of gold.
With the launch of its maiden vintage – Rainbow's End Shiraz 2002– the estate is beginning to live up to these expectations.
The promise of Rainbow's End is in its fertility and micro-climate. Situated on high-lying slopes, rising to 540m above sea level, the estate backs on to the Jonkershoek Mountain and overlooks the prized and productive Banghoek valley, which is encircled by mountains.
Experts have affirmed the potential of Rainbow's End to produce wines that can compete internationally. Renowned viticulturist Professor Eben Archer told owner and manager Jacques Malan, when asked about the potential of the farm to compete with the best, “If that is all you want to know, then let’s go and have a bottle of wine on your stoep.” By way of explanation he added: “The terroir is unique with very high potential to produce especially red wines of top quality.”
Promise implies the commitment and care to make it all come true. Working with the soil, the rain and the sunshine, Jacques and his family started by planting and nurturing 13 hectares of vineyards. The order of the trellised rows of vines takes its cue from the lie of the land and the picture is of patterns of green in harmony with the slopes and curves of the landscape.
It has required perseverance and a dream. Jacques always wanted to own a bit of land with vines. Unfortunately there was none in his family, so he became a civil engineer instead. But he never lost the dream and in 1978 he bought Rainbow's End, which he worked part-time while running his engineering practice.
Then at the age of 54 he took the plunge. Jacques paid off the farm, left his practice and started thinking seriously about making wine. Guidance and encouragement came just at the right time – from a French source. During the 2000 season son Anton had worked in the vineyards and cellar of Olivier Laporte, of Chateau Croix Beausejour, at Montagne St.–Émilion. Repaying the visit, Olivier spent some days at Rainbow's End and encouraged Jacques to forget about the need for large investment and to adapt and make do with what he had. With that they decided they could renovate an existing building and use a cellar under the house for fermentation and maturation.
That’s how they started. After the promise and the commitment comes the end and that is to produce a limited amount of single vineyard estate wines and red blends competitive with the best in the world. The striving will be for well balanced wines with their own style and character drawn from the unique gifts of Rainbow's End. Planting is continuing with a target contemplated of 31 hectares of premium red grapes. Currently 23 hectares have been established. Varieties planted are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
Five members of the family of eight are included in this aspiration. Founder & Technical Guru: Jacques Malan (BSc Eng). Viticulturist: Francois Malan (BSc Agric – Viticulture and Oenology). Winemaker & Marketer: Anton Malan (B.Comm). Wine Tastings: Ingrid Malan (BA) and Sunel Malan (BSc Dietician).
The Malans have adopted a combination of traditional and New World winemaking techniques. Bunch selection, picking at dawn, sorting and plunging in open fermenters are all operations that are scrupulously done by hand, as well as light basket pressing. During the processing the wine is aged in mainly small French oak barrels.
And the pot of gold?
The 2004 Shiraz vintage won gold at the Regional and South African Young Wine Shows, as well as a gold medal at Veritas. It makes for confidence that all the elements of fertility and effort will come together in final success as surely as the estate lies in the embrace of the rainbow.
