Kleine Zalze, hailing from Stellenbosch, made a resounding global impact in this year’s Global Fine Wine Challenge, a competition featuring wines from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA. Their Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Grenache 2022 clinched the prestigious Double Gold accolade at the event held annually in Sydney, Australia. With each participating New World country submitting 120 wines, a discerning panel of judges sought to cherry-pick the crème de la crème of this segment of the wine world.
Out of the 90 wines awarded the Fine Wine Challenge Double Gold, Kleine Zalze’s success underscored their excellence in the New World wine arena. RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze’s cellarmaster, expressed both surprise and elation at the recognition garnered by their Grenache. Reflecting on Australia’s renowned reputation for Grenache, Botha remarked on the exceptional quality of the Australian lineup presented to the judges. The fact that Kleine Zalze earned a Double Gold medal amidst such esteemed competition speaks volumes about the world-class wines crafted by both Kleine Zalze and South Africa, particularly from the exquisitely aromatic and refined Grenache variety.
The grapes for Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Grenache were meticulously sourced from an old vineyard in Darling within the Swartland area, harvested by hand in the early morning to preserve their freshness. When it came to vinification, Botha emphasized the importance of a delicate approach. The grapes underwent destemming, with whole berries layered atop whole bunches. A 20% inclusion of whole bunches significantly contributed to the wine’s abundant red berry aromas.
Fermentation spanned two weeks, employing gentle daily pump-overs to achieve an ideal balance of nuanced flavors, alluring aromatics, and a velvety tannin framework. Only the finest free-run wine underwent a 10-month maturation on lees, housed in a combination of 3rd fill French oak barrels and terracotta amphorae.
Botha emphasized that such exceptional fruit deserved a craftsman’s touch, a sentiment validated by the success at the Global Fine Wine Challenge.
