ALBERTUS VILJOEN was the founder of Worcester farm Alvi’s Drift back in 1928: charismatic, athlete, Springbok rugby player of note. Bismarck was Alvi’s Great Dane: superior in stature, commanding respect, providing a friendly welcome to visitors. And the red blend named in honour of the man and his hound is among the ‘ultra premium’ offerings from Alvi’s Drift: multiple award winner at South Africa’s National Wine Challenge as well at the Shiraz SA Challenge, with the 2017 vintage praised in 2019.

A couple of generations after it all began, the 7000ha Alvi’s Drift alongside the Breede River is more than a wine farm: the Van der Merwes also have a dairy, a piggery, citrus and stone fruit orchards in addition to over 400ha of vines and a game reserve. Wine wise, their first claim to fame had to do with Muscat de Frontignan dessert wine. Then came their value-for-money whites and reds of various kinds, followed by the flagships. Chenin Blanc and Pinotage are their specialities, with the very best sold under their Albertus Viljoen and Verreaux [black eagle] labels. The Albertus Viljoen Bismarck might be Shiraz-led but the role of Pinotage in the blend is significant – to the point that some might mistake the ‘alpha male of the pack’ to be a Cape Blend.

Today, no other wine producer comes close as Worcester’s overall champion. Situated in the south of the district, the vineyards and cellar at Alvi’s Drift are steered by former medical practitioner Alvi van der Merwe (grandson of the founder) and cellarmaster Riaan Marais, with Richard Bradfield in charge of marketing and sales. Cape Wine Master Junel van der Merwe (Alvi’s wife) assists with the blending, marketing and hospitality.

ALBERTUS VILJOEN BISMARCK 2017
WO Worcester. Red blend from estate-grown, hand-selected fruit: Shiraz (39%), Pinotage (23%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%), Grenache (9%), Petit Verdot (6%), Durif (4%), Viognier (3%). Whole-bunch fermentation initially, with fermentation completed in barrel. Matured for 22 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels (30% new).
Alc 13.5 | RS 4.6 | TA 5.8 | pH 3.5
Producer’s Tasting Notes: an opulent, full-bodied wine, with great complexity exhibiting spice, vanilla, pepper and ripe dark fruit characteristics; will age for 8 – 10 years after vintage.
2017 yet to be released – R268pb for the 2015 ex-cellar at the time of writing.