The story of our 2023 Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc begins in a place almost forgotten – an old vineyard on our Breede River Valley farm, located in a place called Gannaskloof. Left to wither and marked to be uprooted, this vineyard quietly waited – overlooked but, to everyone’s surprise, not yet done.
Named after the hardy, indigenous ganna bush that grows there, Gannaskloof is one of the farms in our Alvi’s Drift network, and it is a place that carries layers of history.
Here, an ancient riverbed cuts through the landscape, shaped over millennia by the Ganna River. The sandy loam soils in this flat plain consist of sand-rich upper layers deposited by floods, underlain by deep, clay-rich subsoils. This composition allows for excellent water retention, a crucial aspect considering our dry conditions.
It’s here, amid a plethora of succulents, aloes, melkbos, and renosterveld frequented by oryx and a small antelope known as the duiker, that a 40-year-old Chenin Blanc vineyard – planted by Alvi’s father, Albertus Viljoen van der Merwe II – has been quietly producing grapes for four decades.
Old Vines, Old Ways
Back in 1985, vine planting at Alvi’s Drift followed an older French technique – utilising close vine spacing and low trellising. The goal was to force the vines to compete, with each root system fighting for soil nutrients. Oom Bertie, as Alvi’s father was fondly known, planted many of our vineyard blocks in this manner, and our Gannaskloof Chenin Blanc vineyard was no exception.
Over time, however, this vineyard’s yields began to decline. On a busy working farm like ours, low-yielding blocks are often uprooted and replanted. This vineyard, marked for removal, was effectively mothballed – a winemaking term for a block left without irrigation, pruning, spraying, or care.
Forgotten, But Still Here…
In early 2023, not long after a major flood had devastated large parts of our farm, Alvi and his trusty canine companion, Buksie, happened to ride past this unattended Chenin Blanc vineyard on his motorcycle. There, something unexpected caught our winemaker’s eye.
The vines – overgrown, untamed, and all but forgotten – were still bearing fruit. Curious, Alvi stopped and walked through the vineyard. Upon closer inspection, he found something astonishing: clusters of small, intense, flavour-packed Chenin Blanc berries, thriving against all odds.
No water. No pruning. No protection against the harsh African elements. And yet, there they were. As Alvi tasted the fruit, he realised it had an intensity of flavours, some of which were most unusual for the Chenin Blanc varietal. This mothballed vineyard had not just survived – it still had so much to offer.
Off To the Cellar
“There’s something exquisite happening here.”
After impressing Alvi, these remarkable Chenin Blanc grapes were hand-harvested in the cool, early morning hours and delivered to our cellar, where they were vinified separately. After crushing, the free-run juice was placed into barrels for fermentation. From the start, it was clear: this wasn’t any ordinary Chenin Blanc in the making. Aromas of honeysuckle mingled with tangerine, wild herbs, and – most remarkably – hints of buchu, an aromatic South African medicinal plant known for its singular flavour profile.
Incredibly, throughout the fermentation process, this wine held onto its unusual character – with the notes of honeysuckle, tangerine, and buchu persisting.
Junel, our winery’s first lady and Cape Wine Master, remembers Alvi calling her to the cellar. “Come taste this wine – there’s something exquisite happening here,” he said. Junel tasted the wine. Again. And once again. “It wasn’t like any Chenin Blanc we’d ever made before,” said the internationally celebrated wine expert. “This wine had a personality all of its own.”
A Standout Chenin Blanc
When the time came for certification, there were certainly some nerves within the Alvi’s Drift team. After all, our 2023 Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc is unlike any Chenin we’ve crafted before.
But to our delight, this singular wine sailed through the process and was approved without hesitation. This was a proud moment for our winemaking team, and a reminder that, sometimes, the most unexpected places can yield the most extraordinary results.
A Great Gold Medal – And A Place In the Old Vine Project
Our 2023 Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc has already been acknowledged with a Great Gold Medal at the 2024 International Wine & Spirits Awards (Spain).
Additionally, because our Gannaskloof Chenin Blanc vineyard block is over 35 years old, it qualifies for certification under the Old Vine Project – an initiative committed to preserving South Africa’s viticultural heritage. While the 2023 vintage came about too quickly for this certification, future vintages from our “forgotten vineyard” will proudly carry the Old Vine Project seal.
“Next year, this vineyard will be watered. We’re certainly keeping this block. It has earned its place.” – Alvi van der Merwe
A Wine For Collectors, Sommeliers, and Storytellers
Just 491 cases of our 2023 vintage Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc were produced – meaning only a select few will get to savour its unusual flavours. As Junel states, “This is not a wine for the shop shelf – it’s a wine for collectors, sommeliers, and storytellers, for true wine enthusiasts who savour character, provenance, and authenticity in a wine.”
With its honeysuckle flavours and wild, herbaceous nose, this wine pairs beautifully with fragrant, spicy foods such as Thai green curry or a traditional South African bobotie served with sambals and fruit chutney.
“This is certainly a wine that can hold its own,” says Junel. “It’s a wine that will transform an entire dining experience.”
Albertus Viljoen Range: Pursuit Of Excellence
Our 2023 vintage is a bold departure from previous Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blancs. It’s also a reminder that sometimes, vines that are forgotten, can yield the most unforgettable wines.
Explore our internationally acclaimed Albertus Viljoen Icon range wines here.
