Kleine Zalze Wines, a prominent Stellenbosch cellar, initiated its 2024 harvest two weeks earlier than usual, defying expectations shaped by the previous year’s unusually wet and cold Cape winter. Despite concerns about the dormant vines awakening slowly, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were being off-loaded by mid-January, with Chenin Blanc and still-wine Chardonnay following a week later, and Sauvignon Blanc just starting to arrive at the crush-pad.
According to Kleine Zalze winemaker RJ Botha, the entire vine-cycle was ahead of schedule, with early bud-break in August and consistent growth throughout spring. The dry, hot conditions in December, marked by temperatures continuously rising above 30°C and a relentless south-easter, signaled an inevitable early harvest.
The wind and steep temperatures persist in drying out the vineyard soils during the ongoing harvest of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyard canopies, dense and verdant, contribute to healthy ripe grapes by ensuring energetic photosynthesis. Botha expresses satisfaction with the sugar-to-acid ratio and spot-on pH levels in Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay grapes. The fermenting wines exhibit vibrancy even in their early stages, fostering optimism for the remainder of the harvest.
Kleine Zalze’s red varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Grenache, are still on the vine, displaying juiciness and fruit purity in pre-harvest samples. A notable feature of this year’s harvest, shared across the entire Cape, is a substantial drop in yields. Botha acknowledges the abundance of bunches on the vines but notes their light mass. Despite the decrease in substance and volume, the winery sees it as an opportunity to gain concentrated flavor. Botha emphasizes the unpredictable, challenging, and exciting nature of the wine industry, dependent on the vagaries of nature.
