2024 has been an exceptional awards year for our Scherpenheuvel winery, and the latest round of accolades confirms that the hard work, passion, and dedication we pour into every bottle of wine we produce are truly paying off.
Despite the challenges we’ve faced this year, including some natural disasters and an industry increasingly under pressure, our success is a testament not only to Alvi and our winemaking team’s talent, but also to the incredible support of our loyal customers.
It’s because of you, the people who love our wines, that we can continue crafting world-class wines that shine brightly on the international stage.
Our recent awards include 26 medals at the 2024 Veritas Awards, Gold in the 2024 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, a place in the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition and no less than 10 awards in the 2024 Intercontinental Wine Challenge.
Read on for more details on our third-generation winery’s latest accolades.
Alvi’s Drift Awarded 26 Medals at the 2024 Veritas Awards
We’re thrilled to announce that our winery has been honoured with a total of 26 Veritas Awards this year. As South Africa’s longest-running and most prestigious wine and brandy competition, Veritas has been recognising local excellence since 1991. To ensure complete impartiality, all Veritas tastings are conducted blind, with panels of seven judges sampling sets of 10 wines or brandies at a time.
2024 Veritas Double Gold Winner: Alvi’s Drift Albertus Viljoen Limited Release Chenin Blanc
“This unique wine hails from a distinctive vintage, marking the first harvest from our ‘forgotten’ old vineyard.” – Junel van der Merwe
More About Alvi’s Drift Albertus Viljoen Limited Release Chenin Blanc
The pinnacle of all our Chenin Blanc wines, our 2023 Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc comes with a fascinating story. Grapes for this wine were harvested from our “forgotten” old Chenin Blanc vineyard, sections of which are up to 48 years old!
Some of the Chenin Blanc grapes used to create this wine came from vines growing in the hard, red calcareous soil, also known as dorbank, that the Breede River Valley is so famous for, adding a unique layer of depth and character to this remarkable wine.
“Our heritage Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc reveals a unique character with aromas of wild buchu, honeysuckle, and hints of passionfruit and spice.” – Junel van der Merwe
To create this wine, we started by hand-picking grapes in the cool, early morning hours, as doing so ensures that the grapes’ natural fruit flavours are perfectly preserved.
Once delivered to our cellar, grapes were whole-bunch pressed. Then, the free-run juice was 100% barrel fermented in French oak, using a combination of wild and cultured yeast.
Once fermentation was completed, the wine was matured for 12 months in 100% French oak barrels, resting on the lees to enhance its mouthfeel and complexity, with regular bâtonnage applied to add even more richness. After maturation, each barrel was individually tasted before the wine was blended, ensuring only the best made it into the final wine.
Enjoy this exceptional wine chilled between 10-12˚C, and pair it with creamy fish pie, seafood chowder or chicken Marsala.
Alvi’s Drift 2024 Veritas Gold Winners
Alvi’s Drift Verreaux Pinotage
| A dark, ruby-coloured wine with forthcoming aromas of vanilla, liquorice root, and hints of spice – complemented by rich notes of brambleberry, black cherry, and plum. |
As rare and bold as the mighty Verreaux’s eagle soaring above Alvi’s Drift, our ultra-premium Flagship Verreaux Pinotage is produced in small volumes only, and blended from individually selected barrels. This exceptional, much-awarded 100% Pinotage pays tribute to South Africa’s unique grape varietal.
Alvi’s Drift Reserve Chardonnay
| A star-bright wine with beautiful aromas of lemon zest, hints of toast, spice, and melon, finished with a fresh lime note. |
Featuring the iconic Alvi’s Drift low-water bridge on the label, our internationally acclaimed Reserve range wines invite you to taste what’s possible in the art of winemaking.
Crafted with passion and a focus on sustainability, wines from our Reserve range are exceptional, barrel-fermented wines of superior complexity and character, aged to display beautiful structure and deliciously complex flavours.
The epitome of what we stand for at Alvi’s Drift, our Reserve range is expertly and passionately crafted for the aspirational palate, boasting excellent maturation potential and smooth, intricate flavours that delight the senses.
Alvi’s Drift 221 Sauvignon Blanc
| Sparkling bright with hues of lime green, this light-bodied wine boasts aromas of lime, white peach, passionfruit, and hints of gooseberry. |
Crafted for food pairing, our multi-award-winning 221 wines feature beautifully smooth single varietals and an impressive blend of red cultivars. This range pays homage to the legacy of our founder, Oupa Alvi, who was the 221st player for South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks.
Our 221 range invites wine enthusiasts to deepen their journey, offering the opportunity to explore more complex flavours and refine their palates.
Alvi’s Drift Signature Chenin Blanc
| Pale-straw coloured, this wine boasts beautiful aromas of fresh peach and honeysuckle, accented by a hint of jasmine. |
Alvi’s Drift Signature Viognier
| This well-rounded wine boasts intense, forthcoming aromas of blossom, apricot, and spice, with fruit following through beautifully. |
Whether you’re just starting out on your wine journey or prefer unpretentious, fruit-driven flavours, our Signature range offers exceptional quality at incredible value.
These superb-value, single-variety wines are ready to be enjoyed immediately, showcasing the flavours of popular South African varieties. Our Signature range offers uncomplicated yet high-quality wines with accessible flavours to suit all palates.
Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Awarded a Place in the 2024 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10
Our wooded Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was awarded a coveted spot in the 2024 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10, where no less than 160 wines from 91 producers competed for a place in this prestigious local wine competition.
2024 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge Gold Winner: Alvi’s Drift Brut Cap Classique
Our internationally acclaimed, bottle-fermented Cap Classique wines are crafted using time-honoured methods, resulting in crisp, dry sparkling wines perfect for the discerning palate.
With a refreshing bouquet of lemon cream biscuit, stewed apple, and a hint of lemon zest and blossom, our refined Brut Cap Classique sparkles with a pale straw hue and lively, fine bubbles that form a delicate mousse crown.
On the palate, the wine’s crisp acidity pairs with a creamy texture, offering superb mid-palate depth and a clean, elegant lime finish.
Alvi’s Drift Wins 10 Awards in the 2024 Intercontinental Wine Challenge
Ten of our wines were honoured in the 2024 Intercontinental Wine Challenge, with two winning Double Gold and four winning Gold.
Intercontinental Wine Challenge: Alvi’s Drift Double Gold Winners
Alvi’s Drift 221 Chenin Blanc
This straw-coloured wine presents an inviting, fruit-driven nose of ripe peach, lemon, and subtle hints of honeysuckle. The palate offers a rich texture, vibrant acidity, and is beautifully balanced with soft tannins to culminate in a lingering, elegant finish.
Alvi’s Drift Reserve CVC
Pale straw in colour with intense aromas of peach, passionfruit, and stewed quince, this medium-bodied wine features citrus and floral notes, a creamy, balanced palate, soft, well-integrated tannins and a deliciously lingering tropical-fruit finish.
Intercontinental Wine Challenge: Alvi’s Drift Gold Winners
Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc
With an inviting brilliance and pale straw colour, this wine offers intense aromas of vanilla, spice, and creamy butter, complemented by notes of peach and lemon, with a delicate hint of honeycomb.
Albertus Viljoen Chardonnay
Star-bright and pale straw in colour with lime-green edges, this youthful wine presents inviting aromas of spice, lemon cream, and hints of pear drop. The vibrant fruit carries through to the palate, where beautifully integrated tannins and crisp acidity round off the wine perfectly.
Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
With pale lime-green hues, our star-bright Reserve Sauvignon Blanc presents layered aromas of lime, blossom, and white peach, with a touch of passionfruit on the nose. On the silky, elegant palate, lively acidity mingles with fruit, followed by a gentle creaminess and a lingering peach-and-lime finish.
Alvi’s Drift Reserve Viognier
With a radiant pale-gold hue, our Reserve Viognier entices with aromas of ripe peach, juicy apricot, and tropical fruits like mango and pineapple. Subtle floral notes and nuanced oak ageing add depth, with hints of toasted coriander and vanilla. On the palate, the wine delivers a well-balanced, rounded mouthfeel and a lingering finish.
Sample Our Internationally Celebrated Wines Today
Visit our online shop today to order your favourite Alvi’s Drift wines, and get them delivered to your door.
