The history of Alto dates back to 1693, when it formed part of the larger Groenrivier farm granted by Simon van der Stel. In 1919, the then owner of Groenrivier, Hennie Malan, divided the farm vertically in order to sell half of the land to his brother-in-law. The development of Malan’s share was a co-operative venture between himself and his son, Manie. The Latin name, Alto, is a reference both to the altitude of the vineyards and the aspirations of the founders. Today, the wines are crafted by celebrated winemaker, Bertho van der Westhuizen whose devotion to his craft is ever present.
Alto Wine Estate sports 93 hectares of land under vines and has earned more than 70 gold medals in local and international wine competitions; the collection continues to charm even the most discerning connoisseurs. Each varietal is hand-picked from trellised vineyards, growing in Hutton and Glenrosa soils. The vineyards, all north or north-west facing, are situated in the Stellenbosch Winelands against the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain at 160 metres to 500 metres above sea level and benefit from the cooling effect of the afternoon maritime breezes during the ripening season.
Wines on offer:
- Alto Rouge
- Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
- Alto Shiraz 2013