Meet the team: Francois-Jacques Malan

Meet Francois-Jacques Malan, who continues the family legacy as brand ambassador for the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. As an avid swimmer and outdoor enthusiast, he sometimes wishes he was Captain Planet so that he could bring pollution down to zero!

1. Where were you born?

Stellenbosch.

2. How long are you at Simonsig?

7 years.

3. Why did you choose this career path?

I started part-time during university. I realised what a privilege it was to be able to work for our family business and after graduation, I didn’t even consider looking anywhere else.

4. What do you love about your job?

The people in the industry. Most people in the wine industry are just genuinely ‘lekker’ people.

5. What is the most challenging part of job?

It’s not, it’s quite easy to get people to drink wine.

6. How would your friends describe you?

Calm.

7. What is your personal theme song / mantra?

Stay calm.

8. What did you want to be growing up?

Peter Pan.

9. How do you relax / unwind?

 Gardening, hiking and being a beach bum.

10. Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Captain Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd. He is currently on a boat in the middle of some ocean saving whales and any other marine creature that needs protection from us!

11. If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?

Five. Life was so simple back then, after that we go to school and start doing what we have to do instead of what we want to do until we are 65 again. So if not 5, then maybe 65.

12. If you could be a super hero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

I’d be Captain Planet with a beard instead of the mullet, and bring pollution down to zero!

13. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My swimming career. I have a few memorable races, especially anchoring relays where we won the race on the last leg.

14. How would you like to be remembered?

As the guy who saved the planet, or someone who was good at enjoying life.

15. What is the worst job you’ve done?

Being a parking attendant for a charity.

16. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Earth is our only planet. We don’t inherit it from our ancestors, but borrow it from our children. It’s also the only one that can produce wine, so we better take care of it.

17. What do you owe your parents?

My values.

18. Which wine will you be having with dinner tonight?

I don’t know yet, Inga (my fiancée) usually has the final say, but we enjoyed a lot of Kaapse Vonkel over the weekend!