Worcester’s champion wine producer launches a special Chenin Blanc that honours the founder of Alvi’s Drift
THE RECENT launch by Alvi’s Drift of a flagship Chenin Blanc under the Albertus Viljoen label is the culmination of another outstanding year for this cellar in the Worcester district of the Breede River Valley. The winery on the Alfalfa farm 17km south of the town of Worcester has enjoyed success after success since its first bottling in 2004, and during the past few years alone particularly good reviews have gone the way of the Chardonnay, Viognier, white blends and fortified dessert wine. Also good are the red blend, the Cap Classique bubbly and the Chenin, a variety that the proprietors single out as one of their specialities.
Until now, Chenin Blanc under the Alvi’s Drift label has been appreciated as an easy-drinking quaffer renowned as great value for money – just R34 a bottle for the 2013 ADS. The Albertus Viljoen version is presented as the best of the best Chenin from the farm, a very limited release with a complex nose (nectarine, peach, toasty oak, roasted cashew, vanilla) and a rich, creamy, lingering palate – up to 15 years’ maturation potential and R180 a bottle for the 2012 vintage ex-cellar.
Albertus Viljoen van der Merwe (‘Alvi’ to his friends) was the founder of the family business dating back to 1928. Grandfather of the current generation running a property that includes the winery, a dairy and cheesery, citrus and stone fruit orchards as well as a game reserve, Albertus Viljoen built the bridge across the river on the farm which became known as Alvi’s Drift. He was also a rugby player of note, scoring the first ever try against New Zealand when the All Blacks toured South Africa in 1928.
To quote the winemaking team of Alvi van der Merwe, Henk Swart and Linley Schultz, Albertus Viljoen is “a must for serious collectors and fans of Chenin Blanc… made in small quantities, a wine which only a few people will ever taste.”
The farm is open to the public but by appointment. For more about the Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar, click here. For the latest reviews of Alvi’s Drift wines, click here.
Until now, Chenin Blanc under the Alvi’s Drift label has been appreciated as an easy-drinking quaffer renowned as great value for money – just R34 a bottle for the 2013 ADS. The Albertus Viljoen version is presented as the best of the best Chenin from the farm, a very limited release with a complex nose (nectarine, peach, toasty oak, roasted cashew, vanilla) and a rich, creamy, lingering palate – up to 15 years’ maturation potential and R180 a bottle for the 2012 vintage ex-cellar.
Albertus Viljoen van der Merwe (‘Alvi’ to his friends) was the founder of the family business dating back to 1928. Grandfather of the current generation running a property that includes the winery, a dairy and cheesery, citrus and stone fruit orchards as well as a game reserve, Albertus Viljoen built the bridge across the river on the farm which became known as Alvi’s Drift. He was also a rugby player of note, scoring the first ever try against New Zealand when the All Blacks toured South Africa in 1928.
To quote the winemaking team of Alvi van der Merwe, Henk Swart and Linley Schultz, Albertus Viljoen is “a must for serious collectors and fans of Chenin Blanc… made in small quantities, a wine which only a few people will ever taste.”
The farm is open to the public but by appointment. For more about the Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar, click here. For the latest reviews of Alvi’s Drift wines, click here.
