Sunday Wine Tasting at Kleine Zalze Winery

Sample a sterling selection of vintages at this acclaimed Winelands destination

Although only one of the many offerings available at Kleine Zalze – the tranquil centuries-old farm billed as one of Stellenbosch’s very first all-round Winelands destinations – Sunday wine tasting in its simple, cosy sampling area is, nonetheless, an activity well worth engaging in (especially as so few wine farms open their doors on this proverbial day of rest)

For one, despite the family-owned winery’s focus on providing guests with a complete leisure experience – the farm also boasts an on-site fine dining restaurant and a four-star lodge, and lies just adjacent to the champion De Zalze Golf Course – cultivating world-class vintages remains its first priority. So, while some estates pour money into establishing stylish exteriors, Kleine Zalze has saved its capital for its well-managed vineyards – a fact that may leave the tasting room looking somewhat modest, but that certainly does wonders for the wines.

Created with consistency and quality in mind, the farm’s multi award-winning three-tier range of reds and whites is both extensive and varied, boasting options for any occasion. At entry level is the Cellar Selection, a food-friendly assortment of easy-drinking lifestyle wines, all of which reflect a drive to match accessibility with value; equally flavourful but somewhat more structured is the Vineyard Selection, which claims superior, complex candidates serious enough to create stirs at competitions. And rounding off the acclaimed assortment is the farm’s flagship Family Reserve range, the premium product of the winemakers’ creative prowess.

The estate has also recently (May 2014) released a rich, old world-style Méthode Cap Classique that’s 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 100% fresh and perfect for springtime. Another wine well worth the swish and sip is Kleine Zalze’s Chenin Blanc, a varietal that the farm has been so determined to prove the great potential of that it has, in fact, become strongly and positively associated with the brand as a whole. It’s little wonder then that the three styles of Chenin – one in each range – have joined many of the property’s other wines in collecting a litany of prestigious local and international accolades over the years, including top 10 placements and multiple golds in the Michelangelo Wine Awards and the Mundus Vini International Awards.

While a good measure of know-how and an admirably disciplined approach certainly are strong determiners in the success of the selection, the winery’s winning ingredient is no doubt a healthy dose of passion for the trade – something that worldly Cellar Master Alastair Rimmer and award-winning winemaker R.J. Botha certainly aren’t short of. But enthusiasm is a quality shared by all members of the Kleine Zalze team; the cellar door staff, for instance, are both willing and well equipped to offer guests intriguing background explanations and basic tutoring to complete the wine tasting experience.

The daily sampling sessions cost R15p/p for any three wines and R25p/p for any five different wines within the collection (excluding the Family Reserve Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon). Should these tastings tease the appetite (or perhaps necessitate a little lining for the stomach), cheese platters are also generally available for R85, and the farm’s highly acclaimed Terroir restaurant is but a small stumble away. What’s more, if a lazy nap on the sweeping lawns is not sufficient to recover from an afternoon of indulgence, as already mentioned, part of Kleine Zalze’s all-round offering also includes an on-site country lodge ideal for an especially memorable overnight stay.

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9am – 6pm; Sunday: 11am – 6pm (last tasting is at 5:30pm)

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Eager to soak up the full Winelands experience? Read more about the trailblazing Stellenbosch lifestyle destination, Kleine Zalze wine farm.

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