Alvi’s Drift Reserve Chardonnay

The Alvi’s Drift Reserve Chardonnay is a South-African oak matured Chardonnay from Alvi’s Drift. For this Chardonnay the bunches are pressed after which the juice ferments in oak barrels. The wine matures for 11 months on the fine lees in French oak barrels with a regular battonage. The result is a Burgundy style Chardonnay with complexity. The colour is straw yellow with aromas of peach. The palate is mouthcoating and well balanced with aromas of citrus, white chocolate and vanilla. The ageing potential of this wine is 2-5 years and it pairs well with mildly spiced chicken, duck, sea bass, yellowtail and tuna.

Alvi’s Drift

Alvi is an abbreviation for Albertus Viljoen, the official first name of the owner of this South-African winery in Worcester. His friends call him Alvi and he’s the third generation following his grandfather in the wine business. Albertus Viljoen van de Merwe was a farmer in Worcester, a 2 hour drive from Capetown. His estate was located on two sides of the river Breede Rivier so he built a drift (African for bridge) in 1928 to get an easy access to both parts. Soon this bridge was called Alvi’s Drift which is now used by Alvi van der Merwe as the name for the wines they produce. The family business owns 420 hectares with vineyards as well as 4000 cows, 200.000 chickens and several citrus and peach orchards. Alvi’s younger brother Johan manages the farm whilst Alvi supervises the winery. The vineyards located in the Breede Rivier valley in the Worcester district contain 19 grape varieties. Together with his team of wine makers Alvi produces a variety of wines with international allure.