Project Z Alvarinho

It pairs well with seafood, all kinds of fish, poultry dishes, mature cheeses, smoked meats, or Asian and Mediterranean gastronomies.

One of only a hand full of Alvarinho produced in South Africa, the grapes for this wine were sourced from a block in the Devon Valley of Stellenbosch. At 250m above sea-level on a South-Easterly slope, this block is exposed to cooling breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, a mere 20km away. Situated on a particularly iron- and clay rich soil with excellent water retention capacity, this vineyard is well positioned to produce wine of outstanding quality.

Upon completion of fermentation, the wine was left on the primary lees to mature in the amphora for a further six months before bottling.

The Alvarinho was hand harvested early in the morning and crushed and destemmed immediately after arrival at the winery. Skin contact was given overnight to extract the aromatics Alvarinho is so well known for. Only the free-run juice was drawn off the skins and settled overnight. Thereafter it was transferred to Italian terracotta amphorae for alcoholic fermentation.

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.