There are few things more appropriate to the arrival of spring than the pop of a cork, the fizz of bubbles rising through a glass and that first, exhilarating sip of something cold, dry and sparkling. At Kleine Zalze Wines in Stellenbosch, Cap Classique is not merely an accompaniment to the season. It is almost a state of mind.
But before the bubbles, there is a remarkable wine story.
Kleine Zalze is one of Stellenbosch’s most established names, with a history stretching back to 1699. Today, it is a modern Cape wine producer with an impressive breadth of wines, from Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay to Sauvignon Blanc and an extraordinary selection of old-vine Chenin Blanc.
The estate has access to one of the largest collections of Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc vineyards aged 35 years and older, allowing its winemaking team to explore the remarkable diversity and character of the variety.
A versatile team of winemakers and viticulturists seeks out the right variety for the right site, then applies precision and experience to coax the best from each vineyard. The result is a portfolio that manages to be broad without losing its sense of identity.
And then comes the bubbles.
‘Making Cap Classique is as close as a winemaker can get to magic,’ says Natalée Botha, one of Kleine Zalze’s four winemakers and the specialist responsible for its sparkling wines.
The magic, however, is grounded in serious winemaking. Cap Classique is made according to the traditional method, the same fundamental process used for Champagne.
The second fermentation is where the transformation takes place. The bubbles are created naturally, but so too are layers of texture, flavour and complexity. The wine must spend at least a year in bottle during the process before it can be released.
Kleine Zalze’s commitment to the traditional method is expressed across a range of five Cap Classiques, each offering a different interpretation of sparkling wine and each ideally suited to the exuberance of spring.
At the heart of the range are Kleine Zalze Brut and Kleine Zalze Brut Rosé. Both are made from the traditional sparkling-wine varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and are crafted in a dry style. The Brut is crisp, lively and versatile; the Rosé brings the same refreshing energy with an added layer of fruit and colour.
These are wines that refuse to be confined to the aperitif category. Yes, they are brilliant with oysters, sushi and seafood. But the beauty of Cap Classique is its ability to move effortlessly around the table. Mild curries, ramen, fresh salads and even a chop sizzling over the braai can all find a partner in a glass of properly made bubbly.
And spring practically demands such flexibility. A late-morning brunch, an afternoon in the garden, a spontaneous lunch or the first long evening outdoors all seem to become occasions once the bottle is opened.
For those who prefer their bubbles with a little more fruit and sweetness, Kleine Zalze offers its Nectar and Nectar Rosé Cap Classiques. These wines are deliberately more generous in style than the Brut duo, delivering lively bubbles alongside flavours of ripe, sweet fruit. They are cheerful, uncomplicated and deliciously appropriate to the season – wines that seem to have been made for sunshine.
Then there is Kleine Zalze Vintage Brut, the serious member of the family. It is produced only in years when the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir show exceptional character, making it a wine of vintage, rather than routine. Its pedigree was underlined when the 2015 vintage won the trophy for Best Cap Classique at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge.
At Kleine Zalze, the style is treated with both precision and pleasure. The wines have the technical credentials to satisfy serious sparkling-wine drinkers, but they retain the essential quality that makes bubbles so irresistible: they are fun.
Spring, after all, is not a season for taking wine too seriously. It is about longer days, open windows, green vineyards, flowers, lunches that stretch into afternoons and evenings that begin before the sun has gone down.
For all of those moments, Kleine Zalze has a bottle ready.
Pop the cork. Pour the wine. Let spring begin.
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Picture: Supplied
This article was produced in partnership with Kleine Zalze
