In the year in which Stellenbosch icon winery Alto Estate celebrates 100 years of winemaking, Alto underscored its reputation as not only one of the oldest but also one of the leading South African wine estates by winning two Double Gold medals at this year’s Veritas Wine Awards. These awards went to Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 and to the Alto Rouge 2022, the red blend for which it is world-renowned and that was first made on the Alto Estate on Stellenbosch’s Helderberg in 1922.
Alto Rouge 2022 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Alto was also awarded two Gold medals, one each for its 1693 Red Blend 2022 made for Woolworths and Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, another Woolworths project.
Bertho van der Westhuizen, Alto’s cellarmaster, says the showing at this year’s Veritas Awards was a fitting end to what has been a memorable year for Alto.
“Celebrating legacy and history of 100 years of winemaking is one thing, and it is a terrific story to tell, something few South African wineries are able to do,” says Van der Westhuizen.
“But this showing at Veritas underscores the fact that while Alto has a proud history that has seen it become something of an institution among wine-lovers in South Africa and abroad, we remain committed to pursuing the same path to excellence that our forebears have done over the past century,” he says. “The brand and the name Alto might be the same as it has always been, but we are continuously striving to making better wines that reflect our magnificent Helderberg terroir and the legacy of quality winemaking we inherited. The showing at this year’s Veritas Awards attests to this.”