Altydgedacht Wine Estate

Altydgedacht Wine Estate is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, established in 1698 on the fertile slopes of the Tygerberg in Durbanville. The estate has been in the Parker family since 1852, spanning six generations of custodianship. George Francis Parker arrived at the Cape in 1819 as a 19-year-old with his family as part of the English settler groups. While his family moved to Australia, George remained to become a merchant and eventually acquired the farm, laying the foundation for over 170 years of family ownership. The name ‘Altydgedacht’ means ‘always in thought’ or ‘always remembered’. Located just 15 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, Altydgedacht falls within one of the coolest wine-growing regions in South Africa. The maritime influence, with coastal winds moderating the climate, combined with varied soils, slopes and microclimates across the property, creates ideal conditions for growing premium grapes. Brothers John and Oliver Parker currently run the estate, with winemaker Oliver producing wines of distinctive character and strong varietal flavour that are typical of the renowned Durbanville terroir. The estate boasts an unbroken winemaking tradition exceeding two centuries, with the original 300-year-old cellar still in use and whitewashed walls maintaining the farm’s historic charm. From 130 tons of grapes picked annually, only a selected portion is used for estate wines. Altydgedacht is known for producing some of South Africa’s finest unusual varietal wines, with the 2009 Tintoretto vintage winning the Top Red Blend award at the Novare SA Terroir Awards and the Winemaker’s Choice Diamond Award. In 2017, a partnership was formed between the Parker Family and the Van Der Merwe Family of VDMV Property Holdings, marking a new era while maintaining the estate’s traditions. The rustic tasting room and restaurant, set in a child-friendly environment with picnic areas under trees, pony rides, and cupcake-making activities on select Sundays, offer a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying wines and the beauty of the Durbanville landscape.