This was made possible by the vision and hard work of our cellarmaster RJ Botha who is also the chairman of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa. The exclusive competition travelled to Franschhoek, South Africa with 50 international wine experts judging 1,210 wines from 20 countries, resulting in a gold medal for the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020.
Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2023 South African Judges (L to R): René Groenewald, Malu Lambert, Francois Rautenbach, Dr. Winnie Bowman, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Christian Eedes, Dr. Carien Coetzee, Heidi Duminy en Joseph Dhafana.
We are very proud that Kleine Zalze secured one of only 26 gold medals awarded to South African producers: with the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 receiving the accolade.
RJ Botha says winning a gold medal at this year’s Concours was especially rewarding. “By convincing the organisers of the Concours du Sauvignon to take this major international competition outside of Europe for the first time and seeing the show successfully held in the Cape already gave each and every Sauvignon Blanc producer in the Cape a winning feeling,” says Botha. “Then to learn that one of our Kleine Zalze wines secured a Concours du Sauvignon gold medal, was truly the icing on the cake."
From left: RJ Botha, Chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc SA and Cellarmaster of Kleine Zalze Vineyards, Pieter-Niel Rossouw, Head Winemaker of Darling Cellars, Johan Conradie, MD of Vinventions, platinum partner, Riaan de Waal MD of Darling Cellars, Cathy Grier Brewer CWM of Villiera Wines, and Quentin Havaux, CEO of Concours Mondial du Sauvignon and Vinopres.
The Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a wine in the top tier of offerings in the brand and is made from vineyard sites identified by Botha and his team as having the ability to express superior Sauvignon Blanc character.
Botha says the fact that Kleine Zalze’s Concours du Sauvignon gold medal was awarded to a Sauvignon Blanc already three years’ old was especially gratifying. “With a few seasons in the bottle, the Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc takes on a new, more sophisticated and complex personality, something producers of Sauvignon Blanc strive towards as we believe this variety can deliver some of the world’s greatest white wines,” he says.
“It is especially pleasing to have this character recognised in the Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc on an international platform, an award which underscores Kleine Zalze’s commitment to optimal quality wines through terroir expression and astute winemaking, as well as commercial success.”
This special wine is no stranger to winning awards. The list of accolades and awards includes:
- Veritas 2022 - Double Gold
- John Platter South African Wine Guide 2022 - 4½ stars
- Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 2021
- Michelangelo Wine & Spirits Awards 2021 - Kuehne & Nagel Sauvignon Blanc Trophy
To celebrate our multiple award-winning Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020, we are offering a free tasting of this special wine to all visitors who enjoy any of our regular tastings during April!
Click HERE to buy wine online.
Olé for April's Mexican Fiesta!
Don your sombreros and join us on Sundays in April for an authentic Mexican Fiesta! We start off the Mexican theme with everyone's favourite - tacos! Assemble your own perfect tacos with smoked fish and an array of accompanying fresh ingredients. For a second course we are serving a Pozole, a traditional broth with corn and chicken, flavoured with tomato, shredded red cabbage, onions and red peppers.
The meaty Mexican main course is deboned beef rib Barbacoa with Mole sauce, white bean purée and steamed chard. It wouldn't be a Mexican meal if it didn't feature Tequila somewhere, and here we've included it in a dessert of Tequila and pineapple sorbet served with crushed prickly pears.
Just a reminder that we also offer the Kleine Zalze Sunday Lunch as a completely plant based (vegan) option - just let us know in advance. See the full Mexican Fiesta menu HERE.
The ever-popular Restaurant Week is starting on the 31st March and you can start booking now! The Kleine Zalze Restaurant will be serving a wonderful 4-course lunch menu including a glass of Cap Classique during Restaurant Week, all for only R345pp. Please note that seats are limited and only online bookings will be accepted.
Easter opening times 2023
The Kleine Zalze Tasting Room will be closed on Good Friday but operating as normal for the rest of the Easter period; open from 09h00 - 18h00 Mondays to Saturdays (last tastings commence at 17h00) and 11h00 - 18h00 on Sundays and public holidays (last tastings commence at 17h00). Platters and snacks available at the Tasting Room until 16h30. To book or for more information call us on 021 880 8197.
The Kleine Zalze Restaurant is open for lunch from 12h00 - 16h30 Mondays to Sundays (last orders at 15h30) over the whole Easter weekend. Platters and snacks available at the Tasting Room until 16h30. To book call us on 021 880 8167 or book via DinePlan.
Please call the restaurant on 021 880 8167 or email us for information on our functions packages as well as birthdays and special events.