This year is seeing plenty of celebrations, of life, success, and a few major achievements. The Stellenbosch winery, Kleine Zalze, founded and still run by the passionate Kobus Basson, is celebrating 25 years of being in business and not just being in business but being a successful business. In these trying times, this is no walk in the park and I was very honoured to be included in their celebratory lunch and tasting this week at the farm. Things have also changed a bit with Terroir restaurant under new management with original founder Nic van Wyk consulting again. The restaurant has been renamed the Kleine Zalze Restaurant and our innovative and delicious set of starters certainly set the bar high! Alastair Rimmer - the head winemaker - started at Kleine Zalze 7 years ago, and started then with Cellarmaster RJ Botha, who sadly could not attend the function. Kobus also could not attend as he is recovering from a series of medical issues of which I was not aware. Must have been hard for him to miss this wonderful event. He can be proud that he has put a dedicated, loyal and responsible team in place, and with Carina Gous at the helm of marketing and 2 newer winemakers (female at that) - Lizemari Geldenhuys and Hanri Ferreira - putting in the hard graft, he can definitely step back and enjoy good health while they take the farm forward. We tasted through a few of their top end Kleine Zalze Famliy Reserve wines - and I was particularly wowed by the Sauvignon Blanc - such freshness! Well done to team KZ - may you go from strength to strength - you deserve it!