Constantia Valley, Cape Town’s vineyard. Spanning the southern slopes of Table Mountain National Park, where coastal breezes and the influences of the ‘fynbos’ in this unique floral kingdom, with the ancient soils to produce remarkable wines.
Conveniently located within the Cape Peninsula, this is the only South African ward situated completely within a city and it backed by a World Heritage Site – Table Mountain. Sought after by royalty in the 18th century and surrounded by tales of duels, ghosts and spies, Constantia wines reflect the long history behind them. All five cellars: Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Steenberg Estate, Constantia Uitsig and Buitenverwachting offer something unique to the visitor.
The tasting rooms of all the cellars are elegant, some have retained the historical elements of their beginnings in the Cape Dutch architecture, and furniture which has been lovingly restored and preserved.
The cellars all big international names in terms of the wine the produce, all offer great value to the visitor in terms of the other facilities available.
Dining options include Cape Malay style, classical , continental and contemporary cuisine plus deli options and picnic baskets.
Those seeking cultural enlightenment will find it along this route in the Manor House on Groot Constantia and the National Monuments at Steenberg. Groot Constantia also offer the opportunity to dress up in period costume for a tasting experience in the Manor House.
If you have wined and dined a bit too much, book in for a round of golf at the Steenberg Golf Estate. If you have fallen in love with the Constantia wine experience, book in at Constantia Uitsig, situated on the estate and prolong the romance.
Early wine farmers in this area produced a desert wine in the 18th and 19th Century found in the cellars of Napolean and the Prussian King, Frederick the Great and written about by Jane Austen. The modern equivalent of this ‘Capp Constantia’ is Vin de Constance , which is proving to be just as popular.
The area is well suited to both read and white grape varieties due to its unique location in the basin below Table Montain, the sea breezes from False Bay and the afternoon shadow cast by the mountain. Irrigation is largely unnecessary due to the high annual rainfall. It is most recognized for white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
A bastion of South African wine industry, the regions cellars are a pleasure to visit and the wines a delight to taste and buy. They have been making wine for over 300 years and its shows !
