Allesverloren Wine Estate

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.

The Allesverloren vineyards creep up the imposing Kasteelberg in the scenic Riebeek Valley of the Swartland. Our vineyards range from 170m - 350m above sea level and benefit from a variance in rainfall of 200mm. Cold and wet winters are followed by warm, dry summers where grapes ripen easily with high concentrations of sugar. The prevailing westerly winds, cool summer afternoons and the shadows of the mountain refresh the vines by late afternoon. These various meso-climates provide the ideal conditions for creating big, robust red wines.

The soils on this Swartland farm are a mixture of shale and weathered sandstone - a stony structure which is crucial to the particular character of Allesverloren wines. It accounts for the extraordinary depth which vine roots reach here, thus sustaining strong, healthy vines and resulting in deeply coloured, powerful wines with an excellent concentration of fruit.

Dubbed South Africa's very own "Naked Winemaker" in Swedish newspapers after appearing in flip-flops and poly shorts at a wine tasting, Danie Malan is a down-to-earth winemaker who believes that he is merely a facilitator in the process of transforming good quality grapes into excellent wines. "I am not bigger than the wines I make; I learn more every year. To me, winemaking is a hobby – I don't expect great results, but simply try my best, wait and hope for the wines to surprise me."

Fifth-generation Malan winemaker Danie joined Allesverloren to hone his skills under the watchful eye of his father Fanie after graduating from Elsenburg Institute for Agricultural Training in 1987. In 1990, Danie went on to become the winemaker, and took the reins of owner from his father in 2003. Danie's red wines are his pride and joy, and he humbly attributes their success to the unique terroir of the Swartland wine region.

In 2010 Danie made history as the first South African winemaker to receive the prestigious Golden Glass award at Sweden's long-running annual International Producer of the Year competition (judged by a panel of the country’s top wine writers). In the same year, the Allesverloren Touriga Naçional scooped Gold at the Veritas Awards.

Allesverloren's Malan dynasty began in 1872, when Daniël Francois Malan bought the land – which was at the time a wheat farm. It was Daniël who discovered vineyards on the farm and decided to try his hand at winemaking. His wine was soon in demand, and the farm began producing a sweet fortified wine that developed into its flagship port – the Allesverloren Fine Old Vintage. Today the Swartland wine estate has expanded its reach to 227 hectares, 160 of which are currently under vine. 

Representing the fifth generation of Malans to craft wine at Allesverloren is an honour for Danie, who considers himself exceptionally privileged to craft wines for an establishment that embodies his family's rich heritage. When asked to pick his favourite Allesverloren wine, Danie is hesitant, comparing it to being asked to pick a favourite child. He does, however, admit to having a soft spot for the Cabernet Sauvignon, which he deems the ideal accompaniment to his favourite meat dishes – lamb chops or steak prepared on the braai. When not in the cellar, Danie can be found enjoying time with his wife, children and friends or gazing admiringly at the exquisite Koi and tropical fish he breeds.