Allesverloren: port, Shiraz and five generations of the Malan family
One of the Swartland's oldest wine estates, known for its fortified wines and full-bodied reds.
Near Riebeek West lies Allesverloren, an estate with roots in the seventeenth century and one of the oldest in the Swartland. The name means 'all is lost' in Dutch, a reminder of a difficult past for the early settlers.
In 1872 Daniël Francois Malan took over the farm, which was then used to grow wheat. He began making wine, and later fortified wines. Five generations later, the Malan family still owns the estate and makes its wines.
Allesverloren is best known for its port-style wines. Its Fine Old Vintage is the flagship, and in 1956 its port won the General Smuts Trophy at the South African Championship Young Wine Show. The estate also grows Portuguese varieties such as Tinta Barocca and Touriga Nacional, alongside Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
A visit is a good counterpoint to the younger cellars of the region. You taste a long tradition of red winemaking in the Swartland, in a setting at the foot of the mountain.
Combine it with a visit to Riebeek West: the house where Jan Smuts spent his early years is nearby. Then drive the five or so kilometres back to Riebeek Kasteel for dinner.
