As the overall winner in the category, the Alto wine was one of only 17 out of 1 868 wines entered this year to receive a trophy. The achievement held a very special significance for Alto winemaker Bertho van der Westhuizen.
Alto Wine Estate was first established in 1693, but was first given over entirely to vineyards in 1919. Since then, only five winemakers have held the key to the cellar - a remarkable track record for an industry in constant flux. Manie Malan, together with his father Hennie, was the pioneer that planted the first vines; four decades later Piet du Toit bought the dramatic property off the Annandale Road, before handing over the cellar to his son, Hempies; then, at the turn of the century, Schalk van der Westhuizen took the helm for 15 vintages before passing the cellar keys to his son, Bertho.
With the 2016 vintage being the first completely overseen by Bertho, and his contribution now officially recognised by this independent panel of esteemed peers, he takes his rightful place in the line of Alto greats.
Commenting on the performance of the Alto Cabernet Sauvignon at the SA Young Wine Show, he said: “This is an award firstly for Stellenbosch and the Helderberg area. We pride ourselves on this being a great region for Cabernet Sauvignon and the Bordeaux blend in general, and this just underlines what we stand for.”
The SA South African Young Wine Show – presented annually by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) – gives winemakers the opportunity to showcase the best wines of the current vintage. It is the longest-running event of its kind, dating back to 1833. The outstanding wines of the 2016 vintage were announced at a black-tie dinner, hosted by Agri-Expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Saturday.
“I use the show to have a look at where we are in terms of the industry, and the year,” says Bertho. “Although it’s a long way before this wine will be bottled, it is still nice to get an idea of what worked and what didn`t work in the past vintage. If you wait to evaluate the quality only after bottling, you might miss two or three harvests and then you have to start again.”
Alto’s return to the podium at the event is testimony to consistent excellence for which the estate has become known. Most recently, Alto emerged victorious at two significant championships for producers of Shiraz wines, claiming top spots for its 2013 wine at both the internationally acclaimed Syrah du Monde 2016 and the Shiraz SA Wine Challenge.
Where Cabernet Sauvignon is concerned, the Alto terroir demonstrates year after year its eminent suitability for the creation of this variety’s best expressions. While extreme heat marked the 2015/6 vintage, it was Alto’s location and terroir that allowed it meet the challenge, Bertho says.
The vineyards are situated on a warmer north-facing slope, contributing concentration and colour, while their proximity to the ocean brings the cooling influence of sea breezes for longer ripening and softer tannins.
Alto is situated off the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch district.
Alto is part of Distell Luxury Wines, a collection of superlative quality, award-winning wines from several boutique estates situated in and around the Cape Winelands. For more information about Alto and its wines, visit www.alto.co.za, email info@alto.co.za, call +27.21 881 3884 or make contact on www.facebook.com/AltoWinery or via Twitter @AltoWines.
The wines, available at retail outlets nationwide, are found on many restaurant wine lists and can also be delivered to your door when purchased online through the Vinotèque at this link: https://www.vinoteque.co.za/collections/alto.