with Cellarmaster R J Botha

Wednesday 18th September 2024

7.30pm @ Lysses House Hotel, 51 High Street, Fareham, PO16 7BQ  [map]

We are very privileged to welcome Kleine Zalze Cellarmaster RJ Botha to show us some of his fantastic wines. RJ Botha heads up a team of three winemakers and one viticulturist, a team which is responsible for some exceptional South African wines. RJ studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Stellenbosch and won the Diner’s Club Young Winemaker of the Year in 2010 at Nitidia Cellars. He has been applying his meticulous attention to detail at Kleine Zalze since 2012.

The evening will consist of a brief introductory talk and wine tasting before dinner followed by a three-course, South African inspired dinner matched with wines. It will be a great opportunity to learn about the history of this excellent wine estate and sample its wines.

Kleine Zalze Wine Tasting & Dinner

Pre Dinner Tasting

Vineyard Selection Chardonnay

Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Cellar Selection Pinotage

Project Z Cinsault

Dinner Menu

To Start

Sosaties. A traditional dish of chargrilled chicken skewers, with apricots and onions
served with a South African style BBQ style sauce

Family Reserve Chenin Blanc

To Follow

Braised lamb shank with rosemary and red wine served with layered
creamy potatoes and green beans and roasted carrots

Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Family Reserve Shiraz

To Finish

Hertzoggie. A classic coconut and jam tart served with a vanilla seed ice cream

Project Z Sweet Fortified NV

Freshly brewed coffee

Vegetarian or Vegan options will be available. If you have any other dietary requirements, allergies, etc. please liaise with Lysses House Hotel.

A Brief Review and Some Pictures

The recent wine tasting and dinner presented by  Cellarmaster RJ Botha at Lysses House Hotel was an unforgettable evening for the attendees. The event offered a unique opportunity to learn about and try some of the fantastic wines from the renowned Kleine Zalze winery. 

The pre-dinner wine tasting provided an excellent introduction to Kleine Zalze’s wines, showcasing their range of styles and flavours. The Vineyard Selection Chardonnay, Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Cellar Selection Pinotage, and Project Z Cinsault were all exceptional, each with its distinct character. Probably the biggest surprise of the evening, and the wine for which we received the most orders, was the Pinotage. Serve slightly chilled, it is a wonderfully fresh, pure and fruity wine. Both this wine the Vineyard Selection Chardonnay offer superb value.

The Kleine Zalze Project Z Cinsault is an extremely limited production and is a fresh and crunchy red wine with lively acidity. The wine is aged in a 500 Litre Italian clay amphora for three months. This Cinsault has “aromas of rose petals and red berries on the nose with hints of fynbos and white pepper. The palate shows pure fruit and a crisp acidity with a grip of fine tannins, a hint of salinity on the finish rounds out the wine. “

The food was excellent as always. I thought that the two best wine and food pairings were the lamb course served as the main course with the superb Family Reserve Shiraz and the dessert, the Hertzoggie, served with the Project Z Sweet Fortified.

RJ is an excellent communicator and his passion for winemaking and Kleine Zalze was evident; his knowledge was both informative and engaging. A great evening was had by all!

About Kleine Zalze

Kleine Zalze is a South African winery situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands and the history of winemaking there can be traced back as far as 1695. However, the modern history of the estate began when Kobus Basson and his family bought the property in 1996, and there was a large stride forward. In 1996 the estate was scientifically mapped to find the best terroir for different grape varieties and seventeen years of subsequent investment have seen Kleine Zalze become one of the most highly regarded wineries in South Africa. In September 2022 ownership passed to French-owned AdVini, a world-renowned French wine company, thereby beginning a new chapter for Kleine Zalze Wines.

The winery achieved new heights in 2020 by being named Top Performing Winery of the Year by Platter’s South African Wine Guide, the South African “bible”. More recently Kleine Zalze won four Double Golds and the Best Achiever award at the highly acclaimed Veritas Awards 2022.