Alvi's Drift Signature Chardonnay 2021 (South Africa) - Wine Review

Tonight's white wine review is a delicious, sustainably-crafted, unoaked Chardonnay from South Africa that arrived at the LCBO over the summer in the July 22 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection - and still available for purchase right now.

It is produced by Alvi's Drift Winery, an award-winning, family-owned winery that was founded by Alvi van der Merwe and his wife, Hester, in the early 2000s. Although the winery is relatively new, its roots go back to 1928, when a young, unknown rugby player by the name of Albertus Viljoen van der Merwe - "Alvi" to his friends - made history by scoring the first try in history against the All Blacks on African soil. A few years before retiring from rugby, Oupa (Grandad) Alvi acquired a piece of fertile farmland nestled on the banks of the Breede River in the Western Cape's majestic Breede River Valley. In 1930, a low-water bridge was built across the river running through the property to allow locals easier access to the land. This bridge was locally christened, and still known today as "Alvi's Drift", after Oupa Alvi, as he was instrumental in building it.

Today, the farm is in the hands of Alvi van der Merwe, the grandson of Oupa. He has turned both the farm and the family legacy for crafting exceptional wines into a vision that surpassed all expectations. Alvi is widely known for being a perfectionist, while also being dedicated and passionate about the winemaking craft. Although he initially studied medicine, his passion for creating world-class wines from this family's vineyards persisted, and in 2003 he returned home from practicing abroad to assist his father, Bertie, with managing the family's orchards, vineyards, and winery.

While Bertie was focused mostly on bulk wine production, Alvi began exploring his passion for winemaking. After one year, once Bertie had picked all of his grapes, Alvi was allowed to pick and use any remaining grapes. He put in a lot of effort to create a bit of Chardonnay and Muscat de Frontignan and bought his own barrels and bottles, and actually won quite a few awards with his first wine and Alvi's Drift Winery was born.

Together with his wife, Junel - a Cape Wine Master and well-known lecturer, speaker, and wine expert - Alvi and Junel form a formidable partnership that, along with their winemaking team, has built a reputation for creating exceptional wines of singular character and complexity. The end goal is always the same: nothing less than excellence in every outcome.

This white wine is crafted with 100% Chardonnay that was grown in WO Western Cape, in an area that has a Mediterranean micro-climate, an abundance of soil diversity, and water from the life-giving Breede River. Alvi's Drift vineyards are ideally positioned for producing remarkable wines of unique character and complexity. The vineyards are sustainably fertilised with natural compost that is produced on their farm, as well as meticulously managed to ensure optimal quality and flavour. At harvest, the grapes are selectively hand-harvested in the cool, early morning hours, while ensuring that only the healthiest and perfectly ripe bunches are used for making quality wine. At the winery, the winemaking team strongly focuses on making wines that preserve the fruit-driven expression of the grapes. To craft this wine, only premium free-run juice was used. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged on its lees for several months prior to fining, stabilising, and bottling.

From a cooler-than-normal vintage that delivered exceptional wines, let's see how this 2021 Chardonnay from South Africa is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ALVI'S DRIFT SIGNATURE CHARDONNAY 2021 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#21151) (XD) - $14.95
Screw cap. The medium+ intensity nose offers apple, pear, and lemon citrus aromas nuanced with buttery notes and hints of melon and green herbs. It has very good weight and structure on the medium-full bodied palate with dry and lightly honeyed and spicy flavours of delicious apple, pear, buttery, and herbs, with a nice textural mouthfeel, plus some leesy mineral notes that appear on the mid-palate. Lively acids are fresh and juicy, while leesy mineral, herbal, apple, and pear notes all appear on the long, crisp finish. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

One other wine by Alvi's Drift can be found at the LCBO, while the entire portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.