Quality Begins in the Vineyard
Every bottle of Alvi’s Drift Signature wine starts long before it reaches the cellar; it begins in our estate-owned vineyards along the Breede River Valley. Here, the unique combination of warm days, cool nights, and limestone-rich soils produces fruit with balance, intensity, and natural freshness.
Our team practices careful canopy management, monitoring sunlight, airflow, and ripening to ensure every bunch reaches perfect maturity. Healthy, evenly ripened grapes are the foundation of every great wine – and they’re the first reason we can deliver premium quality at an affordable price.
Hands-On Harvesting for Precision & Freshness
The journey from vine to wine is intentionally short. By owning our vineyards and cellar, we can harvest at ideal ripeness and quickly move fruit to the press. This reduces oxidation, preserving aroma and flavour.
Alvi’s Drift takes a selective, hands-on approach. Grapes for the Signature Selection are hand-picked or carefully machine-harvested at night to retain cool temperatures, protecting the fruit’s integrity and freshness.
Where Modern Winemaking & Family Tradition Collide
Our winemakers use state-of-the-art technology to monitor fermentation temperatures, ensuring that the fruit’s natural flavours – from tropical and citrus to red berry – are never lost.
- Cool fermentation is used for our whites to enhance crispness and aroma.
- Gentle extraction and minimal oak keep our reds soft, smooth, and approachable.
- Blending expertise, developed over generations, yields wines that are consistently exceptional year after year.
This is how affordable South African wine achieves the quality once reserved for much higher price points.
From Grape to Bottle, All in One Place
Owning every stage of production, from vineyard to bottling line, gives Alvi’s Drift complete control over quality and cost. No outsourcing required. This integrated model allows us to focus resources on what matters most: crafting wine that reflects our land and care.
It’s not a shortcut, but the opposite. By doing everything ourselves, we ensure value without compromise.
Experience in Every Sip
Behind the Signature Selection stands a winemaking legacy that spans generations. The Van der Merwe family continues to lead the estate with the same philosophy that started it all: quality first, always. Every Signature wine, from crisp Chenin Blanc to bold Shiraz, reflects that hands-on attention to detail.
It’s this combination of family tradition and modern precision that allows us to deliver world-class wines that remain proudly South African and consistently under R100 per bottle.
Quality Is Our Signature
‘Affordable’ doesn’t mean ordinary at Alvi’s Drift – it means accessible craftsmanship. By investing in our vineyards, our people, and our technology, we make wines that are as honest as they are exceptional.
Because when quality is part of your DNA, it shows: in every bottle, every sip, and every Signature.
