As one of the most trendy golf destinations in SA, the Cape Winelands has myriad accommodation and dining options available for golfers, but Kleine Zalze, just outside Stellenbosch, is something special.
You will no doubt already be familiar with De Zalze golf course, a Compleat Golfer 5-Star Golf Experience, but did you know that tucked behind the 1st and 2nd fairways is the four-star Kleine Zalze Lodge, the Kleine Zalze tasting room and the award-winning Terroir restaurant? Well. If you didn’t, here’s what you’ve been missing out on.
The Mole was recently invited to live the good life at Kleine Zalze. Staying in a one-bedroom suite, on a chilly winter’s weekend, the setting was perfect – surrounded by vineyards and panoramic views of the Stellenbosch mountains and the golf course, it really doesn’t get much better than this.
The afternoon was spent on our private patio, sipping Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc, bought at the tasting room, while watching golfers negotiate the par-four 1st below us. As it turned chilly, the fireplace in the large living area was put to good use, before strolling to Terroir, just a few metres away.
Since opening its doors in 2004, the restaurant has won a string of awards, including Wine magazine’s Dine Top 10 for four consecutive years. Chef Michael Broughton goes out of his way to use local produce to create Provençal cuisine with a Cape twist. He describes his style of cooking as ‘deceptively simple’, a statement that sums up the restaurant as a whole, where unpretentious décor, crisp white table clothes and simple wooden chairs belie the gastronomic experience.
If you are the type of person that judges a restaurant on the quality of bread on the table, then Terroir would get an instant five stars. Yet another wonderful touch that makes a great first impression is the corn soup that is served in an espresso cup, just to get you started, but then the winelist is also superbly extensive, including all the classics from Kleine Zalze.
The waitress deftly worked her way through the chalkboard menu, explaining every jus and reduction eloquently, leaving us with the very difficult decision of what to order. Starters such as salmon served on cauliflower puree, oxtail risotto and flaked leg of duck were on the menu, which changes frequently, depending on what is fresh and in season. Mains include beef fillet, lamb and the signature pork belly, while for dessert we chose the crème brulée served with pears and the chocolate fondant – simply sublime.
Although a three-course meal will do some serious damage to your credit card – starters are priced at around R80 and mains around R140 – Terroir is currently running a winter special menu, which allows you to have three scrumptious courses for just R195 (or two courses for R150). This is extremely good value for money considering the quality of the food and service.
Thankfully, after a delicious meal and fabulous wine (we drank the award-winning Kleine Zalze Shiraz 2007), the lodge is just a stone’s throw away, and breakfast the following morning was served in the Kleine Zalze Lodge Restaurant.
The lodge has all the amenities you’d expect from a four-star establishment, including a gym, sauna and a rim-flow pool. A variety of accommodation options are available, including one- and two-bedroom self-catering suites, superior and standard rooms. A bonus of staying at the lodge is that you’ll receive preferential greenfees at De Zalze. An even better option is to take one of the lodge’s great-value-for-money packages, where dinner and golf is all included. One of the best deals the Mole has seen for a while includes accommodation, breakfast, wine tasting and a round of golf at De Zalze for R1 025. Packages that include golf, breakfast or a two-course lunch at Kleine Zalze Lodge Restaurant, plus golf, start at R290 – what a steal!
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