Family Reserve Chardonnay

Seafood, Poultry, Cheeses, Creamy pasta, salads.

The wine spent an extra 8 months on the lees in the respective fermentation vessels, the resulting blend consists of 50% barrel fermented wine and 50% Terracotta fermented wine with no fining or filtration before bottling.

The first vintage ever of Family Reserve Chardonnay was crafted from two different wards and soil types (Decomposed Granite, and colluvial Tukulu soils) in Stellenbosch, each contributing to the complexity of the wine. Both vineyards are within 10km of the Atlantic Ocean, with the cooling breezes providing much needed relief from the summer heat, helping to retain natural acidity in the grapes. The run-up to the 2023 season was characterized by a warm and dry winter and spring, resulting in drier than usual soil conditions at the onset of the growing season. This resulted in earlier bud-break and flowering, and as such also promising an earlier than usual harvest.

Kleine Zalze wines are marked by a classical structure and complexity matched by a vibrant flavour intensity. Discernibly South African in style, they are refreshing, beautifully balanced and well-suited to food. Our wines are made according to traditional methods with minimal cellar intervention, but supported by modern equipment.