Allesverloren Chenin Blanc

Allesverloren Chenin Blanc

Tasting note:

The grapes grow on the slopes of Kasteelberg on old bush vines. The hard, poor soil and warm climate give the wine concentrated notes of ripe stone fruit and apple, which are nicely balanced with fresh citrus.

Allesverloren

The excellence of Allesverloren wine is rooted in the love for the land and its vineyards. Few families have served as custodians and have been fortunate enough to pass on deep knowledge from generation to generation. Early records are unclear, so the history of Allesverloren dates from 1696 to 1704, when the governor of the Cape bequeathed it to a widow, Cloete. This courageous woman was one of the first to venture into the inhospitable region now known as the Swartland. These early people had limited resources, with only the most rudimentary farming equipment and supplies to support themselves.

The name Allesverloren reflects the origin of its wines. It stems from a single transformative incident: to buy tools or go to church, the family in Allesverloren had to undertake a long and arduous wagon journey along primitive roads to Stellenbosch. When they returned from such a trip in 1704, they found their house razed and the farm destroyed.

“All is lost,” they believed. And so the Dutch form of these words – Allesverloren – was embraced as a reminder and inspiration. In 1806, the owners of Allesverloren harvested the first wine grapes from the estate. And more than 150 years ago, this mantle was passed on to the Malan family. The land holdings have increased to 227 hectares and the wines continue to enjoy international fame.

Allesverloren's wine heritage really took off with the arrival of the Malan dynasty and Daniel Francois Malan, in 1872 when he bought the land, it was mainly used to grow wheat. But it was the vineyards that captured his heart and soon his wines were in high demand.

Daniel first produced a fortified wine, which developed into the estate's flagship wine, which thrives to this day as Allesverloren Cape Vintage. It was the Malans van Allesverloren who pioneered Portuguese varieties in South Africa; and who helped propel local wineries towards Swartland's international prominence as a pioneering wine region. Today, under the tutelage of fifth-generation farmer and cellar master Danie Malan, Allesverloren wine is still as sought after as when it was first established.

Lost everything