Any estate agent will tell you that when it comes to property, location is everything - and Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch certainly has that advantage in spades.
Situated three kilometres outside the historic Western Cape town, the lush estate consists of a working wine farm, a gourmet restaurant, a 72-par golf course, a modern conference facility and a charming lodge, where we spent the night.
The lodge is next to the first fairway of the championship course designed by Peter Matkovich. It has 47 rooms and suites, each with clear views of the Stellenbosch Mountains, the vineyard or the greens.
Our luxury suite had a private balcony that extended from the living area to the master bedroom, giving us ample room to relax and watch the up-and-coming Gary Players demonstrating their skills below. The guinea fowl wandering across the nearest bunker were also quite entertaining - and we didn't need binoculars to see them!
The decor at the lodge is simple and understated, yet stylish. The colour palette in our suite was inspired by the earth, with nude beiges and creamy caramels throughout. The living room is divided for functionality, with an open-plan kitchen and dining area leading to a comfortable lounge with French doors opening out onto the balcony.
The master bedroom has a state-of-the-art en-suite bathroom with contemporary fittings and underfloor heating. I liked the his-and-hers basins and the fragrant toiletries (the Naran Ji and Ziao Jao ranges from Molton Brown of London).
If you're the kind of person who remains chained to your laptop, then you'll be glad to know that there is Internet access throughout the lodge, as well as satellite television. But if you're planning to indulge in more leisurely pursuits, then try a walk in the vineyards, a wine-tasting experience in the cellar or a swim in the rim-flow pool.
Stellenbosch has a variety of restaurants to satisfy any appetite, but guests at the lodge really have no excuse not to visit Kleine Zalze's own award-winning restaurant, Terroir, where Chef Michael Broughton and his team have perfected the art of making good food even better.
Chef Broughton's strength lies in his ability to enhance the simplest of meals with full-flavoured sauces that are lovingly prepared to complement, rather than overshadow, the main ingredients. My black butterfish was dreamy, and if it hadn't been for the rules of etiquette, I would have licked the plate!
The culinary delights of the day are presented on a chalkboard and vary according to the season and the produce that is available locally. Diners can expect to pay about R75 per starter, and upwards of R120 for the main courses.
Location
The Kleine Zalze estate is located 3km outside Stellenbosch on the R44 (Strand Road). The drive from Cape Town takes about 40 minutes.
Comfortable?
The various rooms and suites at the lodge are equipped with all the modern amenities one would expect from a four-star establishment, and the front office managers and their team of housekeepers are always on hand to assist with any special requirements that guests might have.
The bottom line
The lodge has rack rates for 2008/2009 and they vary during high and low season:
- Standard rooms - between R900 and R1 100
- Superior rooms - between R1 100 and R1 500
- Luxury one-bedroomed suites - between R1 500 and R2 000
- Standard family suites - between R2 200 and R2 800
- The single Luxury family suite is priced between R2 500 and R 3300
Awards and acknowledgements
The culinary delicacies and wine produced at Kleine Zalze have attracted worldwide attention. The estate scooped the Dave Hughes Trophy for South African Wine Producer of the Year, as well as the Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc Internationally at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2007. In June this year, the Financial Mail named Kleine Zalze as its Wine Company Of The Year.
Terroir also has a long list of accolades, including the Eat Out Johnny Walker Restaurant Of The Year 2006, Eat Out Service Excellence Award 2006, Eat Out Top 10 Restaurant 2005 and 2006, Dine (Wine magazine) Top 10 Restaurant in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and Best of Wine Capitals of the World South African Wine Tourism Restaurant of the Year 2006. The restaurant has recently been named as one of the 20 nominees to compete in the 2008 Prudential Eat Out Restaurant Awards. The winners will be announced at the end of November this year.
More information
- Visit Kleine Zalze's website for more information and booking details: www.kleinezalze.co.za
- The Stellenbosch tourism website has useful information for travellers: www.stellenbosch.org.za
This hotel review was arranged with the help of Manley Communications
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