Adress: Riebeek West
Country: South Africa
internet: http://www.allesverloren.co.za/
Wine district: Swartland
wines
The history of our Swartland winery dates back to somewhere between 1696 and 1704, when the governor of the Cape left it to a widow named Cloete. This courageous woman was one of the first settlers who ventured into the inhospitable Swartland region. The early settlers were simple people, with only the most limited agricultural equipment and basic necessities to support themselves.
In order to purchase tools or attend church, they had to undertake a long and arduous wagon journey along primitive roads to Stellenbosch. It was on their return from one such journey in 1704 that the settlers found their house burnt to the ground and the farm destroyed. Hence the estate's sad name, "Allesverloren", which means "all is lost".
Considering its name, it is ironic that this gem of the Swartland wine region has had such a happy fate. By 1806, Allesverloren's owners had already harvested the estate's first wine grapes and since the estate passed into the hands of the Malan family 140 years ago, Allesverloren has gone from strength to strength. Our estate has increased to 227 hectares and our wines continue to earn international acclaim.
The first of the Malan dynasty, Daniël Francois Malan arrived at the estate in 1872. When he bought the land it was predominantly being used to cultivate wheat, but after seeing the vineyards he decided to try his hand at winemaking. His wine was soon in demand and Daniël began to produce a sweet fortified wine, which developed into the estate's flagship port, our Fine Old Vintage. Danie Malan is the fifth generation Malan on the Swartland estate. He is Allesverloren's owner and winemaker and continuously taking his family's legacy to new heights.
