As SA’s largest producer of bottled Viognier, and overall winner of the 2022 Viognier Challenge, Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar has long been synonymous with world-class Viognier wine.
With their latest release, the Scherpenheuvel winery steps well off the beaten path, offering wine enthusiasts an intriguingly aromatic white wine (and perfect festive gift) that’s been described as “a white wine for red wine lovers”.
Indeed, this fruit-forward, perfumed white varietal not only comes with a fascinating history, its vinification is also known to require a high level of skill and expertise on the part of the winemaker.
“Because of its extraordinary combination of perfume and body… Viognier could truly be said to be the hedonist’s white grape variety” Jancis Robinson, wine.co.za.
Viognier: A Hidden Gem On the South African Wine Landscape
Originating in France’s Rhône Valley and brought back from the brink of extinction in the mid-1960s, Viognier has mostly remained on the fringes of South Africa’s wine landscape. Today, this grape represents just 0.7% of white grape varieties cultivated on local soil.
But head winemaker Alvi van der Merwe’s ongoing passion for this fascinating, white cultivar is no secret. With one of the biggest Viognier plantings and South Africa’s first retail friendly Viognier, Alvi’s Drift has become well-known for producing superb-value, world-class Viognier wines.
Alvi’s Drift Crowned Overall Winner in SA’s 2022 Viognier Challenge
The cooler-climate winery’s long list of local and international awards for their unwooded Signature Viognier bears testimony to the passion and craftsmanship poured into producing this lesser-known, floral white cultivar.
Previous Viognier accolades for Alvi’s Drift include being crowned overall winner in SA’s 2022 Viognier Challenge (for their 2021 vintage Signature Viognier), as well as receiving SAWIS Grand Gold Certificates of Excellence for their 2022 Signature Viognier three years in a row (2021-2023).
Now, Alvi’s Drift is excited to announce the launch of their first oak-aged Viognier, a wine that forms part of their acclaimed Reserve range.
“Our Reserve Viognier is just incredible on the palate. It truly is the result of our constant pursuit of excellence in everything we do here at Alvi’s Drift.” – Alvi van der Merwe
Alvi’s Drift’s 2023 Reserve Viognier: Fruit-Forward, Complex & Textured
Even before its public launch, this “complex, textured wine with hints of floral perfume and oak” was honoured with a coveted 2024 Great Gold award at the International Wine & Spirits Awards (IWSA), and a Medal of Excellence (90 points or more) by celebrated UK wine expert Tim Atkin in his 2024 South Africa Special Report.
Subtle Notes of Toasted Coriander & Vanilla, with Hints of Floral Perfume & Oak
Alvi’s Drift’s 2023 Reserve Viognier presents a pale-gold hue and a medium-bodied profile, with an enticing bouquet of ripe peach, juicy apricot, and tropical notes of mango and pineapple.
Subtle hints of toasted coriander and vanilla, along with delicate notes of floral perfume and oak, add complexity. This fruit-forward, aromatic wine offers a well-balanced, rounded mouthfeel and a delectable, lingering finish.
Choose Something Different This Festive Season
Ideal for pairing with creamy seafood risotto, aromatic Thai curries, or richer festive fare, this unusual wine would make a unique and memorable gift for any wine enthusiast, especially as the festive season approaches.
With only 150 cases available for purchase from Alvi’s Drift’s online shop starting October 2024, this much-anticipated wine is set to sell out fast. To avoid disappointment, make sure to order yours while stocks last.
For more information or to purchase Alvi’s Drift 2023 Reserve Viognier, visit www.alvisdrift.co.za
About Alvi’s Drift Reserve Range Wines
Crafted with passion, Alvi’s Drift’s acclaimed Reserve range of wines invite wine enthusiasts to taste what’s possible in the art of winemaking.
The labels on the winery’s Reserve range bottles feature an illustration of Alvi’s Drift, the historic low-water bridge over the Breede River that cuts through the family farm. Symbolising the journey from possibility to reality, this bridge, built in 1930, was the vision of the wine farm’s founder, Albertus Viljoen “Oupa Alvi” van der Merwe.
Bertie van der Merwe, Oupa Alvi’s son, began the tradition of winemaking at Alvi’s Drift. Today his son, Alvi van der Merwe, crafts the estate’s internationally acclaimed wines, celebrated and enjoyed by wine lovers across the globe.
Alvi’s Drift’s Reserve range represents their winemaking team’s dedication to excellence, inviting wine aficionados to “taste what’s possible” while exploring the rich legacy and quality of the estate.
About Alvi’s Drift
Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar is a third-generation South African winery, known for its passion and dedication to crafting exceptional wines. With a rich history rooted in tradition and innovation, Alvi’s Drift continues to set new standards in winemaking, while producing world-class wines of exceptional quality, complexity, and character.
