Alto Wine Estate on the Helderberg
Alto Wine Estate is situated on the northern slopes of the Helderberg south of Stellenbosch. The estate lies in the so-called Golden Triangle, a well-known but not legally separate wine-growing area within Stellenbosch. The vineyards rise from around 100 to roughly 500 metres above sea level and benefit from both intense afternoon sunshine and cooling air currents from False Bay. These conditions have made Alto a specialist in structured red wines for decades.
The modern history of the winery began at the start of the 20th century. Manie Malan planted the first vineyards together with his father and produced the first vintage in 1922. Professor Abraham Izak Perold recognised the potential of the wines at an early stage. The first red blend was exported to London as early as the 1920s and was later released in South Africa as Alto Rouge. This wine remains one of the estate's best-known blends today.
Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the range. More than half of the vineyard area is planted with this variety. The first single-varietal Alto Cabernet Sauvignon was released in 1965 and developed into one of the estate's most frequently awarded wines. The higher Cabernet parcels reach elevations of around 500 metres and are planted on weathered granite with clay-rich subsoils. These soils retain moisture, while cooling sea breezes extend the ripening period.
Alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot play important roles. Depending on the vintage, Alto Rouge combines several of these varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz forming the core. The Shiraz grows on deeper granite and clay soils and typically shows dark fruit, pepper and spicy notes. The different elevations make it possible to combine powerful fruit with a clear tannin structure.
Alto Estate Blend is the most important blend in the current range and is based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc. Above it sits M.P.H.S., a limited selection produced only in particularly suitable vintages. The name is formed from the initials of former cellar masters and reflects Alto's unusual continuity of personnel. In more than a century, the estate has had only five winemakers responsible for its wines.
Bertho van der Westhuizen has been responsible for wine production since 2015. He succeeded his father, Schalk van der Westhuizen, forming the second father-and-son succession in the history of the estate. Individual vineyard blocks are assessed separately and selected later for the respective wines. French oak barrels play an important role, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon and the top blends.
Alto remains strongly focused on the red grape varieties for which the warm slopes of the Helderberg are particularly well suited. Cabernet Sauvignon, Alto Rouge, Shiraz and the estate blends show a classic Stellenbosch style with dark fruit, spice, structure and good ageing potential. At Vin Africa, Alto represents a long-established example of the Helderberg's red wine tradition.