Alto Rouge reaches a milestone with 100th consecutive wine vintage.
Iconic South African wine estate Alto, situated on the slopes of Stellenbosch’s Helderberg wine appellation, celebrates an extraordinary milestone this year when it releases the 100th consecutive vintage of its renowned Alto Rouge red blend. The first vintage of Alto Rouge, now one of the Cape’s most famous wines, was crafted in 1922 and, after maturation to market-ready condition, was exported for sale to the United Kingdom in 1924.
The success of Alto Rouge in the British market led to the wine being released in South Africa in 1933, and it has been a South African classic ever since.
Alto Estate once formed part of the farm Groenrivier on the Helderberg, granted to a pioneer farmer in 1693. Vineyards were cultivated from the beginning, but the path to vinous greatness only began in 1919, when Groenrivier owner Hennie Malan sold the lower half of the property to his brother-in-law. Hennie named his remaining land Alto – for its elevation and magnificent view over the lower reaches of Stellenbosch and the Cape Flats as well as for his intention to make wines of rarified excellence. Here, with his son Manie, Hennie set off on the path towards wine greatness.
A cellar was built and vineyards focusing on red wine grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cinsaut, Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir were planted. Alto was, in fact, the first property in South Africa to plant Pinot Noir, the result of the Malans’ friendship with the famous viticulturist Abraham Izak Perold, who advised and assisted father and son on the vine-planting regime.
Manie, one of the first graduates in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University, has become known over the years as a particularly astute winemaker and viticulturist. It was his understanding of both the offerings of the Alto terroir and the needs of the wine market that led to the vision of what was to become the red wine blend that is Alto Rouge.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Cabernet Sauvignon was already proving to be a grape variety particularly suited to the Stellenbosch region. However, the power and tannins of the cultivar made wines that, back then, were only accessible for public enjoyment after they had matured in wood for four years or more.
Manie understood the plush nature of Shiraz and Cinsaut, the other two primary varieties of Alto, and used these in blending with Cabernet Sauvignon to create a wine that was accessible and entirely drinkable after two years from harvest.
That he was onto something with this visionary blend became apparent from the first Alto vintage, when the blended wine from the 1922 vintage won the top prize at the 1924 Cape Wine Show in the ‘Red Wines, Burgundy Type’ category. Alto held this title for six consecutive years.
Although the wine had not yet been released in South Africa, the Malans sent a sample of the first Alto vintage to Burgoyne’s, a well-known London wine merchant.
The red blend from Stellenbosch was well received, and in 1924 Alto began exporting its wine – blended and in barrel – to London, where it was bottled and sold as a Burgundy-style wine. In 1933 Alto Rouge was released in South Africa, and today it can be described as the oldest premium red wine brand in the country, with a history going back to that very first harvest in 1922.
Over the years and under the stewardship of various legendary cellar masters, the
Alto Rouge blend has been adapted from that first vintage as the winemakers sought to constantly improve the wine’s quality in reflecting the terroir of Alto, as well as to make use of new developments in viticultural practices and the availability of different clones. The primary components in Alto Rouge today are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc, with Petit Verdot and Merlot incorporated to add complexity and depth.
According to wine writer Emile Joubert, the Alto Rouge deserves its status as one of South Africa’s leading wines not only for its longevity and illustrious history, but also in terms of quality.
“I first got to know Alto Rouge in the 1980s and from the outset it was a wine commanding of attention due to its polished tannins, vibrant fruit and refinement,” says Emile. “The wine’s ethos of a Cabernet Sauvignon backbone combined with the plushness of Shiraz makes it a delicious wine at an early age, while the vineyard origins on the Helderberg and skilled winemaking throughout the decades ensure Alto Rouge’s ability to age. I have had the honour of tasting Alto Rouges of over 40 years old and they still bear the hallmarks of true elegance, showing a pronounced fingerprint of their magical geographical origin.”
The blend has undergone certain alterations, but what will never change is Alto Rouge’s standing as an integral part of the history of Cape winemaking and a popular choice among wine lovers worldwide that has truly stood the test of time.
Bertho van der Westhuizen, Alto’s current cellar master, says it is an honour for him and his team in the cellar and vineyards to preside over the 100th consecutive harvest of grapes used for making Alto Rouge. “For a New World wine country to reach this milestone is a rarity, and it underscores the provenance and legacy of the Alto brand, as well as the aptitude of the Stellenbosch region for making great wines since the early 1900s,” he adds.
“Even more amazing is that Alto Rouge has remained a popular and commercially viable wine for almost a century, garnering icon status for a Stellenbosch wine and drawing critical acclaim. For this, the vision of the Malans and Alto’s other pioneers has to be commended, as well as the Helderberg terroir’s suitability for outstanding red winemaking. And if the forebears of Alto happen to be watching, they can be assured that this year’s 2022 vintage will aptly honour their vision and pioneering roles in creating this South African icon.” V