Rouge

Beautiful on its own or paired with grilled beef, Italian cuisine or matured cheese such as Cheddar and Edam.

The 5 varietals were handpicked from trellised vineyards which grow in Hutton and Glenrosa soils. The north and north-west facing vineyards are situated against the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, some 100m to 500m above sea level, and benefit from the cooling effects of the afternoon maritime breezes during the ripening season. At the time of picking the vines were between 7 and 27 years old and yielded an average of 7 tonnes per hectare.

After malolactic fermentation the component wines were aged for 14-18 months in a combination of first-, second- and third-fill barriques, of 90% French and 10% American oak, before the desired blend was made.

The 5 grape varieties used to make up this blend ripen at different times and were harvested at 23,5° to 25° Balling. Each varietal was vinified separately and fermented on the skins for 7 – 12 days at 25° to 27°C in closed stainless-steel fermenters. The fermenting mash was pumped over several times a day.

Alto is a historic Stellenbosch wine estate dedicated exclusively to red wine, with vineyards planted on the elevated slopes of the Helderberg since 1919. Best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and its classic red blends, Alto has built a century-long reputation for structured, full-bodied South African reds with impressive ageing potential.