Kleine Zalze winemaking team with Nataleé Botha, Hanri Ferreira, Lizemari Geldenhuys, and Christo Pienaar, Veritas chairman.
The Stellenbosch winery showed its ability to produce a diverse range of cultivar wines, as well as dominating Veritas’s Heritage Category, winning three of the four Gold medals awarded to wines made from Old Vine Heritage Vineyards.
Double Gold went to Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chardonnay 2023, with Gold medals following for Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and Family Reserve Syrah 2020. In the Heritage Category, Kleine Zalze took Golds for Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2023, Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2022 and Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2023.
RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze winemaker, says the Double Gold for the winery’s Family Reserve Chardonnay 2023 was especially gratifying seeing as this is the first Chardonnay to be
introduced into Kleine Zalze’s top-tier Family Reserve range.
“South Africa has over the past decade become an international force in Chardonnay, with the country’s wines made from this Burgundian variety being mentioned as being among the best offerings in the world,” he says. “Incorporating Chardonnay in our top Family Reserve tier adds to the status of Kleine Zalze’s overall wine portfolio, as I believe this wine to be a terrific example of the world-class Chardonnays South Africa, and specifically Stellenbosch, has to offer. Winning a Veritas Double Gold in our first outing with the Family Reserve Chardonnay is especially gratifying, seeing as Chardonnay is one of the competition’s strongest categories.”
Klein Zalze Family Reserve Chardonnay 2023 is made from two parcels of fruit sourced from vineyards within Stellenbosch, encapsulating the diversity of terroir within the Cape’s most renowned appellation. Adding to its appeal is the fact that this Chardonnay was fermented and aged in a 50-50 combination of 400l French oak barrels and 500l Italian terracotta amphorae.
Botha says that the three Kleine Zalze Chenin Blancs awarded Gold Veritas medals emphasised the winerys commitment to this variety and to Old Vine Heritage Chenin Blanc.
"Chenin Blanc is one of Kleine Zalze's foundations, and we have access to more registered Old Vine Chenin Blanc vineyards in Stellenbosch than any other winery," he says. "This focus allows us to make three diverse expressions of Chenin Blancs, all harnessing the properties of site- expression and fruit-driven flavour profiles the variety is known for. The three Veritas Golds is a just reward for our emphasis on the magnificent legacy of old vineyard Chenin Blanc, one of the Cape’s true wine treasures.”