Unpredictable weather patterns and untimely summer rains in the Cape winelands have etched the 2023 wine grape harvest into recent memory as one of exceptional significance. At Kleine Zalze Estate in Stellenbosch, this vintage will be enshrined as a testament to foresight and the profound vineyard expertise of the Kleine Zalze team, pivotal in safeguarding the harvest-ready grapes from damage and preventing the dilution of crushed juice.
RJ Botha, the cellarmaster at Kleine Zalze, articulates the essence of this viticulturist’s vintage, stating, “This year truly exemplified the role of a viticulturist. With two substantial rain spells occurring in March, merely two weeks apart, and the weighty clusters of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon approaching their optimal picking window, our winemaking and viticulture teams had to make astute decisions. The goal was to harvest the blocks untainted by rain while ensuring they achieved the required level of ripeness. Fortunately, our decisions were on point; we successfully gathered the red grapes before the torrential rains in the week of March 20, with the desired sugar content intact.”
Embarking on the journey with 100mm of rainfall in December 2022, this year’s Klein Zalze vintage commenced in mid-January amid mild climatic conditions. “The white grape harvest began approximately two weeks earlier than last year, and as we commenced, whispers of an outstanding harvest were in the air,” explains Botha. “The Chenin Blanc from our Firgrove vineyards in Stellenbosch exhibited remarkable quality, attributed to the timely watering from the December rains. The vines, being dryland bush-vines, greatly benefited from this infusion of moisture, especially after the preceding warm and dry winter. The young Chenin Blanc wines resting in our cellar now stand as a testament to incredible quality.”
Kleine Zalze’s Sauvignon Blanc grapes, sourced from Stellenbosch, Darling, and Durbanville vineyards, were harvested three weeks ahead of the typical schedule. Botha notes, “While Darling’s crop suffered from hail damage in December, overall yields and fruit quality remained robust. Coupled with extraordinary flavor profiles and aromas, the mild vineyard conditions imparted firm and vivacious acidity, heralding another promising year for Sauvignon Blanc.”
However, the warm winter of 2022 cast a shadow over the Chardonnay harvest. Botha elucidates, “Insufficient cold units during the previous winter impeded the vines’ ability to enter a suitable dormant state. As a result, Chardonnay volumes plummeted by 30% to 40%, a trend observed across much of Stellenbosch.”
As rain loomed in March and the later-ripening red varietals graced the vineyards, Botha and his teams faced pivotal decisions. Balancing the urgency to harvest before the rain with the imperative of achieving optimal ripeness for varietal expression was paramount.
Botha highlights the advantage of possessing young, virus-free Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in this wet year. He emphasizes, “The absence of viruses ensures the vines can efficiently channel their energy towards ripening the fruit. Consequently, we successfully gathered half of our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes before the significant rainfall beginning the weekend of March 4. The remaining grapes were harvested before the subsequent rain event two weeks later. The Cabernet Sauvignon entered the cellar with an ideal sugar content of 24°B and, notably, without any signs of water absorption. Furthermore, the Cabernet Sauvignon exhibited exceptional quality with deep, vivid hues and remarkable complexity in the nascent wines.”
Turning to Shiraz, another stalwart of Kleine Zalze’s wine portfolio, Botha acknowledges the varietal’s resilience in vintages like this. He predicts, “Shiraz is particularly forgiving in such conditions. The exigencies of the inclement weather necessitated early ripening and harvesting, which may contribute to heightened notes of enticing spice and pepper in our Shiraz wines.”
Reflecting on the challenges, Botha concludes, “This harvest truly kept us on our toes, not only with the customary manual labor of this season but also the strategic dance with the capricious weather. Our profound connection with and understanding of the vines empowered us to make the right decisions during this demanding wine grape harvest, where the human touch harmonized with nature’s commanding presence.”
“All of this magnifies the rewarding nature of witnessing the emergence of quality in the nascent wines within our cellar.”
