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In our Alvi’s Drift Taste What’s Possible video series, winemaker and Cape Wine Master Alvi and Junel van der Merwe explore various aspects of the fascinating world of wine. Series 1: Wine 101 focuses on wine basics, such as how to taste wine. All too often, “the wine world” can seem intimidating to wine enthusiasts new to this tradition-rich realm. Yet, once one has a grasp of the fundamentals, the wine arena can be an intriguing-yet-inviting social space.
In this Alvi’s Drift short video, renowned local wine expert, Junel van der Merwe, explains how to taste wine correctly. Did you know that tasting wine is a simple, 3-step process of examining, sniffing, and swirling the wine in your mouth, before finally reflecting on the wine’s flavours, aromas and the overall tasting experience?
ALVI’S DRIFT EXPERT TIP: HOW TO TASTE WINE
After swirling, you can opt to either swallow or spit out the wine. Junel recommends spitting it out, especially when tasting several wines in a single session.
ALVI’S DRIFT – A WINERY STEEPED IN HISTORY AND TRADITION
Alvi’s Drift lies within the fertile Breede River Valley, a mere 20 kilometres outside Worcester in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. The Van der Merwe family’s farm, vineyards, cellar and wines boast a rich history, all beginning with Oupa Alvi.
Albertus Viljoen (Oupa Alvi) van der Merwe scored the very first try on our continent in 1928, against the then-invincible All-Blacks rugby team. Two years later, in 1930, Oupa Alvi commissioned the building of a low-water bridge to cross the Breede River, which runs through the family farm. Today, this landmark still stands, widely known as Alvi’s Drift.
Oupa Alvi’s grandson and our winery’s head winemaker, Alvi van der Merwe, later named our wine farm after our family patriarch – and the little low-water bridge he had built. Our winery’s name honours both our family legacy and the Breede River nourishing our vineyards. Both Alvi and Junel have a deep love of this land, making use of sustainable farming methods and giving back to nature wherever possible.
OUR ALVI’S DRIFT VINEYARDS
Thanks to nutritious soil, a reliable water source, and ideal climate and topography, our Alvi’s Drift vineyards produce award-winning South African wines year upon year. Among the adjoining farm network, you’ll encounter indigenous fynbos, a plethora of Karoo succulents, as well as renosterveld. Together with his winemaking team, Alvi painstakingly plans out the location of each vineyard, ensuring the various grape varietals benefit from the perfect terroir.
OLD MEETS NEW AT OUR ALVI’S DRIFT CELLAR
Alvi’s Drift’s cellar stands at the centre of our 9 000-tonne winery’s award-winning red, white, sparkling and rosé wine production. In order to attain only the best results, our Alvi’s Drift cellar employs both new and old wine production methods. Wine is produced at an unhurried pace, with as little interference as possible. Near-century-old kuipvate, originally constructed by Oupa Alvi, are still used alongside modern winemaking equipment, oak barrels and stainless steel fermentation tanks.
ALVI’S DRIFT: INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED WINES
Both national and international wine competitions recognise Alvi’s Drift’s enduring commitment to excellence. Standout honours our winery has received over the years include the National Wine Challenge Awards, SA’s Platter’s Wine Awards, International Wine Awards: Spain, Veritas Awards, Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards and Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition Awards.
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Alvi’s Drift. Dare To Be True.
www.alvisdrift.co.za | wine@alvisdrift.co.za
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