Kleine Zalze, a distinguished Stellenbosch wine estate, clinched a coveted gold medal at this year’s groundbreaking Concours Mondial du Sauvignon competition, an international showcase exclusively for Sauvignon Blanc wines. In a historic departure from its European origins, the competition was held in Franschhoek, South Africa, marking the first time in its 14-year history. Amidst the discerning evaluation of 1,210 wines from 20 countries by a panel of 50 international wine experts, the Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 was awarded the esteemed gold medal.
RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze’s cellarmaster, who also serves as the chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc SA—an assemblage of Cape wine industry’s Sauvignon Blanc producers instrumental in bringing the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon to South Africa—expressed profound satisfaction over the gold medal triumph in this year’s Concours.
“Successfully orchestrating the Concours du Sauvignon outside of Europe and hosting it in the Cape was a significant accomplishment, filling every Sauvignon Blanc producer in the region with a sense of triumph,” Botha explained. “To then discover that one of our Kleine Zalze wines clinched a Concours du Sauvignon gold medal was indeed the crowning achievement. The competition annually convenes a formidable consortium of international and local wine experts, rigorously scrutinizing wines from Sauvignon Blanc strongholds, including France, New Zealand, and Austria. Winning a gold medal in such esteemed company stands as a remarkable achievement for the entire Kleine Zalze team, underscoring our unwavering commitment to deliver excellence with each bottle we produce.”
The Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 takes its place in the upper echelon of Kleine Zalze’s offerings. Meticulously crafted from vineyard sites identified by Botha and his team as possessing the capacity to express the pinnacle of Sauvignon Blanc characteristics, the grapes were sourced from carefully selected vineyards in Durbanville and Darling. These regions, located on the Cape’s western fringes and exposed to the invigorating influence of the cold Atlantic Ocean, provide optimal conditions for cultivating this varietal.
The grapes, harvested in the cool morning hours, underwent a meticulous process that involved 12 hours of skin contact to enhance complexity and extract the diverse flavors held within the skins. Subsequently, the juice was separated from the skins through gravity, settling for 24 hours. Fermentation commenced in stainless steel tanks at a chilly 13°C. The wine matured on primary lees for seven months before being bottled.
Botha highlighted the gratifying aspect of the Concours du Sauvignon gold medal awarded to the three-year-old Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. “With several years of bottle aging, the Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc transforms into a refined and intricate expression, a characteristic that Sauvignon Blanc producers aspire to achieve, believing this varietal can yield some of the world’s most exceptional white wines,” Botha emphasized. “The recognition of this profile on an international stage through the Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc award highlights Kleine Zalze’s steadfast dedication to delivering premium quality wines through terroir-driven expression and astute winemaking, while achieving commercial success.”
