Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc

Tasting note:

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin BlancMade in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa from three different estates and soils, adding complexity to the final product. Light and refreshing, with a nose rich in lime, melon and herbal notes, while the palate is rich in citrus and elderflower. The finish is creamy and rich, with a hint of minerality.

Kleine Zalze

Kleine Zalze is an award-winning winery located in the heart of the Cape Winelands, just three kilometres from Stellenbosch. Wine has been produced on a small scale on our estate since 1695, but in 1996, when Kobus Basson and his family purchased the property, the modern Kleine Zalze born.

Our philosophy is simple: success begins in the vineyards. Exceptional wines are made possible by selecting varieties and clones that are specifically suited to the different soils and slopes, and by further careful management of the farm's extensive natural resources.

This continued attention to detail culminated in Kleine Zalze  reached new heights in 2020 and was named Top Performing Winery of the Year by Platter's South African Wine Guide, perhaps the most comprehensive guide to South African wine in the world.

More recently won Kleine Zalze four Double Golds and the Best Achiever award at the acclaimed Veritas Awards 2022.

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc

The History of Kleine Zalze

A 1692 census shows that Nicolaas Cleef had been settled on a farm known as Groote Zalze, just outside Stellenbosch on the banks of the Blaauwklippen River, since 1683. Cleef was born in Grosszalze, Germany, and married Barbara Lefevre, a Huguenot refugee from Fleurbaix, Belgium in 1684. By 1692 they had a family of one daughter and one son and had planted 7,000 vines on Groote Zalze. In 1695 Simon van der Stel granted Cleef the freehold (title) of the 57 morgen of land which he had cleared and cultivated for twelve years.

Today, 18 morgen of this grant lies within the boundaries of the subdivided portion known as Kleine Zalze, bordering another part that was derived from a subsequent donation (1818) to the owners of the Groote Zalze.

Nicolaas Cleef died in 1708 and his widow Barbara and their children Anna Catherina and Jochem continued the farming business. Anna Catherina married Hans Jacob Conterman, whose family name was Grundermann (until his arrival at the Cape in 1796). Conterman arrived at the Cape as a soldier, but was soon released from his duties and registered as a citizen.

More recently, Kobus Basson and his family acquired the property in 1996 and proceeded to renovate the cellar and replant the vineyards to create the modern Kleine Zalze to build.

In September 2022, ownership passed to AdVini, a world-renowned French wine company, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Kleine Zalze Wines.

In 1713 Anna Catherina and Hans (also known as Jan) inherited the Groote Zalze. Anna Catherina died in 1720 and Hans remarried and sold the Groote Zalze in 1722 to lieutenant DC Nyseh. Although Nyseh was the owner of the Groote Zalze until 1758, nothing more is known about him. In 1758 the Groote Zalze was sold to Johannes Colyn, who in turn sold it to Wilhelmus Krige in 1762.

In 1809 Krige sold the Groote Zalze to Andries Francois du Toit, great-grandson of Francois du Toit, a Huguenot refugee. In 1818 Andries du Toit received a grant of 250 morgen of land bordering the Groote Zalze from the new British administration. The larger property, totalling 307 morgen, was divided between Andries' great-grandchildren. Through ups and downs of family fortunes and a large number of male descendants, the Du Toit family had to hold the Groote Zalze for 166 years before Gilbeys Distillers and Vintners bought two parts of the land and consolidated it into what is known today as Kleine Zalze. .

In 1996 the Basson family bought Kleine Zalze and improved and developed the property while establishing a premium Stellenbosch wine brand. Since 1996, the family also acquired the remainder of the land, once known as Groote Zalze.

Vineyards

Situated on different slopes, soils and aspects, the vineyards that bear the fruit for the wines of the Kleine Zalze exposed to a fresh sea breeze from the Atlantic coast, which is only 15 km away. This cool climate produces delicate flavours and at the same time offers optimum growing and ripening conditions for our fruit.

The fruit comes from the 120 hectares of vines on the estate Kleine Zalze are planted, while the rest comes from long-term contracts, giving control from vine to bottle. Winemaker Henning Retief is the foundation of our award-winning wine portfolio, ensuring grapes of exceptional quality by using viticultural techniques that focus on sustainability.

Decisions such as the direction of vine planting, trellis work and vine height above ground, as well as the shape and density of canopies, all impact the quality of fruit delivered to the cellar. Extensive yield reduction is also implemented to produce the finest quality fruit-driven wines with excellent character and aging potential.

Green Approach

From the beginning, the environment has been a major consideration for us and has been taken into account throughout the development of the estate. We comply with the internationally recognized Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) program. The program certifies that the grapes and wine are produced according to environmentally sustainable production methods. Compliance with the IPW guidelines assures the buyer and consumer that the production process is environmentally sustainable and that food safety requirements have been met.

We support and are accredited by the Wine & Agriculture Ethical Trade Association (WIETA) and also actively support local charities and organisations involved in community strengthening.

Winery

Our winemaking philosophy is supported by a three-pronged strategy of nurturing and developing all the components involved in the process: the vineyards,  the cellar and the people.

The vineyards are where all the great wines are made and we leave no stone unturned to produce the best quality grapes. The winery is responsible for ensuring the highest quality throughout the winemaking process  quality levels to produce great wines and it is our people who make it all possible.

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc

Kleine Zalze