The tourist and visitor season is in full swing with our tasting room and restaurant at Kleine Zalze abuzz with activity on a daily basis. We are delighted and happy to welcome the many familiar faces as well as our first-time visitors.
Our cellarmaster RJ Botha also completed his last travel adventure of the year, with a visit to our partners and customers in Japan. By all accounts it was a most interesting and successful trip. Pictured here in traditional attire with Maho Tamai and Makoto Sakaguchi from Raffine.
Kleine Zalze's results in the Platter's Wine Guide 2024
A Grenache from the Kleine Zalze Project Z range has been named Grenache Noir of the Year in the Platter’s Wine Guide 2024, the leading and most comprehensive guide to South African wines. The Kleine Zalze Project Z Grenache 2022 was one of the 226 wines assigned a top five star rating out of the over 8 000 wines and wine-related spirits judged for this year’s Guide. Five stars are awarded to wines scoring 95pts and above, undergoing two stages of judging before receiving the final stamp of excellence.
The Kleine Zalze Project Z Grenache 2022 is made from grapes originating from the cool Darling region and true to the inspirational ethos of Project Z a portion of the fruit was whole-bunch fermented in stainless steel, after which it was aged for nine months in clay amphorae – one of the hallmarks of the Project Z range.
RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze cellarmaster, says the five star-rating, as well as the title of Best Grenache Noir in Platter’s, underscores the Project Z approach of striving for excellence through terroir-driven fruit and creative practices in the cellar.
An additional 14 Kleine Zalze wines scored 90+ points in the Platter's Wine Guide, with the following achieving 94 points:
- Project Z Alvarinho 2022
- Project Z Chenin Blanc 2022
- Family Reserve Shiraz 2020
- Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2022
- Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022
- Vineyard Selection Syrah 2021
- Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2022
Solar power for Kleine Zalze
Kleine Zalze took another step closer to becoming less dependent on Eskom and our diesel generator for power supply. The office and tasting room at Kleine Zalze Wines now run on solar power thanks to a donation and collaboration with our Swedish importers, Winemarket. A big thank you also to Winelands Solar for doing an excellent job.
December's Sunday Lunch: A traditional braai
Join us in December for a braai under the oaks at Kleine Zalze Wines! We all love a South African braai and chef Nic van Wyk is making it effortless on Sundays in December - just bring yourself and your family or friends, and we'll do the rest!
To start with we are serving Picanha "plankie" steak with monkey gland sauce, alongside vetkoek with farm butter and tomato jam. The second course is grilled line-fish kebabs with a traditional tomato and onion salad.
The main course features some braaied meats; coriander and apricot glazed lamb ribs and sweet curry chicken sosaties. Of course, it wouldn't be a braai without some salads, and we are serving potato salad with aioli, chives and spring onions, green salad with pickled cucumber, shaved Boerenkaas and crispy onions, as well as sweet corn on the cob with chili an garlic butter.
For dessert we are serving a very traditional melktert with cinnamon ice cream.
New summer menu at Kleine Zalze Restaurant
With the warmer weather in the Cape Winelands, the restaurant has switched to a new summer menu of lighter options. Out Taste, Explore, Relax menu is designed to let you decide how you want to enjoy lunch by showcasing a selection of dishes, where you decide the size of the dish.
Taste - think tapas, Explore - similar to a starter, and Relax - a traditional main course. Some firm favourites so far are the beef tartare with pickled mushroom and truffle aioli, red onion, parsley and caper topped brioche toast and steamed prawns, avocado, gem lettuce, baby potatoes, wasabi mayonnaise & tōgarashi dressing. See the full menu HERE.
For the chocolate lovers we have two stunning chocolate dessert options: a chocolate cheesecake with Nutella ice cream and a chocolate pot with pistachio biscotti. In keeping with the lighter theme, a trio of sorbets will make a fitting finish to your meal, while we also a few other fantastic sweet option to finish off your meal.
The Kleine Zalze Restaurant is open for lunch from 12h00 - 16h00 Mondays to Sundays (last orders at 15h00). Platters and snacks available at the Tasting Room until 16h00. To book, call us on 021 880 8167 or book via DinePlan.