Thursday, 10 October, 2013
Alto Estate
Some 1800 wines entered this year's competition, which has earned the reputation as the 'Oscars' of the SA wine industry. The winners were announced on October 5 during a gala dinner at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
Alto was chosen for its award by a panel of international and local judges.
The estate is situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin district and in an area renowned for its world-class red wines in particular. The Alto Shiraz, born from vineyards planted in deep, red, decomposed granite and clay soils, has been a consistent performer in a variety of local and international championships. The 2011 vintage won Gold in this year's IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) while Alto also received Gold last year for the 2010 Shiraz. In addition, this wine received a Gran D'Or at the 2012 Michelangelo International Wine Awards and an SAA listing in Premium Class.
"We are blessed with a superb terroir," says Alto winemaker Schalk van der Westhuizen. "Fertile soils and an ideal climate give us the ingredients for grapes of outstanding quality."
Alto - one of the Cape's original red wine estates - is part of Cape Legends fine wines,a premium wine distribution and marketing company based in Stellenbosch, with an extensive collection of superlative quality, award-winning wines from some of the Cape's most recognised wine estates.