Meet Alvi’s Drift Winery

If you’re as passionate about superb South African wine as we are, chances are you’ve already come across some of the celebrated local winery Alvi’s Drift’s many award-winning wines.

Situated in the southern reaches of the fertile Breede River valley’s surprisingly cool Scherpenheuvel wine ward, the almost century-old wine farm is perfectly positioned for the production of cool-climate grape varietals like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, the latter two of which form the cornerstone of Alvi’s Drift’s internationally acclaimed Cap Classique and Sparkling wine portfolios.

While Alvi’s Drift’s globally acclaimed wines are a testament to the vision, hard work, and passion of head winemaker, Alvi van der Merwe, the Alvi’s Drift team is more than just winemakers. The winery is also serious about protecting its natural heritage, bringing forth wines that are not just delectable but also responsibly produced.

The Alvi’s Drift Vineyards

Blessed with an ideal Mediterranean microclimate, the cooling night-time Atlantic Ocean breeze, diverse soils, and abundant water from the Breede River, the location of each Alvi’s Drift vineyard is a matter of meticulous planning, with the soil type, topography, and sun and wind exposure that best aligns with each grape varietal carefully considered.

“We have sandy soils from the ancient riverbanks, granite, shale, red Karoo soils, even black slate, while our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards are planted on a combination of south-facing ancient shale and black slate slopes,” says Junel van der Merwe, Alvi’s Drift brand ambassador and renowned wine expert.

A Unique Journey for Every Wine

In the Alvi’s Drift cellar, a combination of traditional and modern winemaking techniques is applied in tandem with an unhurried, low-intervention approach to winemaking. Here, more than 8 million litres of wine are processed with every vintage.

“Every Alvi’s Drift wine follows a unique journey through our cellar,” says Alvi. “Many of the varieties in our red wine blends are fermented and matured using different production methods, with each wine vinified separately in order to showcase the distinct character of every cultivar.”

A Bumper 2023 Awards Crop

In March 2023, Alvi’s Drift collected a total of 19 medals at the 2023 Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition Spain. With two of their wines (Alvi’s Drift Verreaux Pinotage and Alvi’s Drift Reserve Muscat Nectarinia) scoring an impressive 97 points each, this early achievement ushered in a triumphant awards year for the Scherpenheuvel winery.

Another proud 2023 achievement for Alvi’s Drift was being scored 90 points or more for three of their wines by Tim Atkin, the world’s foremost commentator on South African wine. In his 2023 Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report, Alvi’s Drift’s Albertus Viljoen Chardonnay scored 91 points, while the winery’s Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc and Reserve Chardonnay were both awarded 90 points.

A Toast To Alvi’s Drift’s World-Class Cap Classique Wines

Alvi’s Drift Brut Cap Classique 

Youthful in character with a refreshing bouquet of citrus, creamy lemon, and a hint of almond, this refined, award-winning Cap Classique boasts a fine, lively mousse. Expect crisp acidity with a delectably creamy texture, great mid-palate depth, and a deliciously lingering aftertaste.

An excellent companion to grilled chicken or fish, this dry sparkling wine is best served as a welcoming drink alongside canapés filled with smoked salmon or raspberry-baked Brie.

This much-awarded, lively bone-dry Cap Classique boasts a fine crown of mousse with a complex nose of baked brioche and lemon cream and hints of walnut and nougat. The mousse is chalky dry with notes of nut and stone fruit following through to a full mid-palate and a refreshing, creamy lemon finish. 

Enjoy this wine with grilled prawns and fresh oysters, or serve with a mushroom quiche or pear, goat’s cheese, and walnut salad.

Explore Alvi’s Drift’s Award-Winning South African Wines

Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar boasts a rich and storied history. Learn more about the Van der Merwe family (and their Springbok rugby legend patriarch!), and discover their many award-winning wines here.

In June, Alvi’s Drift was honoured with no less than 25 awards at the prestigious 2023 NWC Top 100 SA Wine Awards. Counting among these were eight sought-after Double Platinum Top 100 SA Wine Awards and a Special Vineyard Consistency Award. Other notable 2023 awards included Gold at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Awards for their Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and three recent Double Gold Veritas awards (Sparkling Brut Cap Classique, Reserve Muscat Nectarinia, and Signature Chenin Blanc).

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Images: Supplied