Alvi's Drift Pinotage 221
£16.49
£21.99 per litre · incl. 20% VAT
In Stock — 4 bottles available
Pinotage at its friendliest and most approachable, a juicy, fruit-forward red from the Breede River Valley that wears its heart on its sleeve. Black cherry, bramble and a whisper of spice, with soft tannins and lively acidity. The unwooded style keeps it bright and easy-drinking. A brilliant midweek pour, and a smart introduction to South Africa's signature grape.
Not for sale to persons under 18. Adult signature required on delivery.
UK wide delivery
Expert curated
Sourced direct
Our Verdict
We list a lot of Pinotage, and the 221 earns its place by being the one we hand to anyone nervous about the grape. There's no rough edge here, just clean, juicy fruit, soft tannins and a finish that asks for another sip. It punches well above its price, which is why it keeps walking out of the warehouse (69 cases and counting). Perfect for new Pinotage drinkers, curious dinner-party hosts, or anyone wanting a reliable midweek red from the Cape without the fuss.
Tasting Notes
Deep black-cherry red in the glass with a youthful purple rim, this unwooded Pinotage leads with bramble fruit, ripe red cherry and a quiet lift of sweet spice. The palate keeps that cherry-driven thread going, framed by bright, lively acidity and tannins soft enough to drink without ceremony. Medium-bodied and fruit-forward, the lees ageing shows in a rounded, almost creamy mouthfeel rather than any oak weight, finishing clean and refreshed rather than heavy.
Bramble & Black Cherry
Dark berry fruit and ripe black cherry form the core, giving the wine its juicy, immediately approachable character.
Red Cherry Lift
A fresher red-cherry note runs through the palate, keeping the wine bright rather than brooding or heavy.
Sweet Spice Hint
A whisper of warm spice on the nose adds dimension without distracting from the fruit-driven Signature-range style.
About This Wine
If you've been curious about Pinotage but worried it might be too rustic or smoky, start here. The Alvi's Drift Pinotage 221 is the grape at its most welcoming, all bright fruit, gentle structure, and easygoing charm, without the tar-and-leather intensity that puts some drinkers off.
Expect an intense black-cherry colour in the glass, with a youthful purple rim and a nose bursting with bramble berries, red cherry and a whisper of warm spice. On the palate, that cherry character carries right through, framed by lively acidity, soft tannins and a medium body that makes it as good with a Tuesday night supper as it is on a Saturday with friends. Crucially, this is unwooded, only premium free-run juice, cold-fermented and left on lees for several months, so the fruit does all the talking.
The vineyards sit on the banks of the Breede River outside Worcester, where a Mediterranean microclimate, varied soils and river-fed irrigation produce ripe, fruit-driven wines without ever tipping into jammy excess. The van der Merwe family have been farming this land for three generations, and the 221 range, named after the rural road past the estate, is their everyday-value benchmark.
Pour it with spaghetti bolognese, a charcuterie board, or even a salmon sushi platter (yes, really, that gentle tannin handles it beautifully). We deliver across the UK, and at this price, it's an easy case-buy.
Food Pairing
This is a midweek-friendly red that doesn't demand a special occasion. The bright acidity cuts through rich tomato sauces, the soft tannins won't fight delicate fish, and the fruit-forward profile flatters cured meats and nutty Alpine cheeses. Think bowls of spaghetti bolognese on a Tuesday, a charcuterie board with friends, or, surprisingly, a salmon sushi platter.
- —Spaghetti bolognese with plenty of Parmesan
- —Charcuterie board with salami, chorizo and cornichons
- —Salmon or tuna sushi and sashimi platter
- —Grilled Emmentaler or aged Gouda on sourdough
- —Roast chicken thighs with smoked paprika
How to Serve
Temperature
Slightly cool, just below room temperature. Twenty minutes in the fridge before serving keeps the fruit lifted.
Decanting
No need to decant, this is an unwooded, fruit-forward style designed for immediate enjoyment. A quick swirl in the glass is all it needs to open up the bramble and cherry aromatics.
Glass
A standard red wine glass with a rounded bowl works beautifully, nothing oversized, you want the fruit concentrated.
Cellaring
Store on its side in a cool, dark spot. It will hold for two to three years, but there's no real reward in waiting, this one is built for drinking.
Ageing & Cellaring
Built for early, easy drinking, the soft tannins and fresh fruit are at their best now. That said, it has enough structure to hold for two to three years from release, during which the primary berry notes will settle into something a touch more savoury.
The Land
The Alvi's Drift vineyards sprawl across more than 800 hectares on the banks of the Breede River, with a Mediterranean microclimate and a remarkable patchwork of soils underfoot. The river provides irrigation in this drier inland pocket, while the diversity of soil types gives the winemaker room to match each grape to its ideal patch.
The Winemaking
Unwooded by design, the goal here is fruit, pure and unadulterated. Only premium free-run juice makes the cut, which keeps the wine bright and avoids any harsh edges that pressing can drag in. Cold fermentation locks in those juicy berry aromas, and several months on the lees adds a rounder, more textured mouthfeel before fining and stabilisation. No oak gets in the way. What you taste is the grape, the place, and the careful hand of a winemaker who trusts both.
The Western Cape Region
Le Domaine draws its fruit from vineyards scattered across the Western Cape, from coastal sites cooled by Atlantic breezes to warmer inland slopes, all planted between 50 and 300 metres above sea level. This broad sourcing is deliberate. By blending components from different microclimates, the cellar builds a consistent house style that balances the crisp acidity of cooler sites with the ripe generosity of warmer ones. It's the Western Cape's extraordinary diversity captured in a single glass.