Situated high on the slopes of the imposing Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, you will find South Africa’s oldest red wine estate. The trellised vineyards cling to the high granite slopes that rise from 100 to 500 metres above sea level, which are ideal for the cultivation of red grape varietals.

Alto is a farm with a rich history. The first title deeds date back to 1693, but it was only in 1919 that the farm was given over entirely to vineyard. For close to a century, Alto has built a reputation as one of the most respected red wine producers in South Africa and this was thanks to the foresight of farmer Manie Malan and his family, who recognised that the property’s unique aspect, soils and slopes were ideal for crafting full-bodied red wines. They named the farm Alto: homage to both the farm’s altitude and the family’s pursuit of excellence.

The cellar and homestead they built still stand on the estate today. The Malan’s nurtured and expanded these vineyards for four decades, before selling the property to Piet du Toit in 1959. On purchasing the farm, Du Toit employed a team of experts to evaluate the terroir and soils, to confirm if the right cultivars were planted across the estate. The consensus? Manie Malan’s intuition couldn’t be faulted. Alto was, and remains, the realm of superlative red wines.