Constantia Vineyards

The elegant suburb of Constantia is situated in the Cape’s oldest winelands and is home to renowned wine estates and numerous award-winning restaurants.

Lined with oak trees and gabled Cape Dutch homesteads, Constantia is a pretty suburb situated on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. The winelands began in 1685 on the farm of the governor of the Cape Colony at the time, Simon van der Stel.

Having chosen an enormous tract of farmland for himself and his family, Van der Stel named his estate Constancia after his daughter. Today, Constantia is one of Cape Town’s most prestigious suburbs. After Van der Stel’s death in 1712, his estate was divided and sold off into the wine estates which still exist today.

Seven producers now make up the Constantia Wine Valley today. They are Groot Constantia, High Constantia, Constantia Uitsig, Steenberg, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Glen.

Groot Constantia (+27 21 794 5128; www.grootconstantia.co.za) is the largest estate in Constantia and consists of many of Van der Stel’s original buildings, including the famous manor house. It’s known as “the birthplace of South African wine”. A visit to the Groot Constantia Museum (+27 21 795 5140; www.iziko.org.za/grootcon/) will give you an idea of life in the Cape of Good Hope during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are cellar tours and wine tastings open to the general public. Don’t miss out on a visit to either of the two excellent restaurants, Simon’s and Jonkershuis. They are both very popular so you will need to book.

High Constantia (+27 21 794 7171; www.highconstantia.co.za) is a boutique winery situated just before the gates of Groot Constantia. The energetic and dynamic wine maker, David Van Niekerk is restoring a small corner of land to its former winemaking glory. Don’t miss out on tasting some of the sparkling wine, touted by some as the best in the country.

Nearby is the excellent Constantia Uitsig estate which is home to a winery, superb hotel, three fabulous restaurants and a recently completed spa. One of the restaurants, La Colombe, was voted Best Restaurant in Africa and the Middle East and 28th Best Restaurant in the World in 2006 by UK Restaurant Magazine. It is a must visit for any foodie. (+ 27 21 794 2390)

Steenberg Vineyards boasts a state-of-the-art cellar, completed in 1996, that has the capacity to produce around 70 000 cases. The cellar also boasts a vinotheque, where bottled wines can be kept under ideal conditions until ready to be enjoyed. Steenberg’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc Reserve has won awards year after year and the winery’s distinctive red blend – Catharina – is widely recognized for its elegant, old-world French style. There is also a wonderful five star boutique hotel, a luxury spa, restaurant and superb 18-hole golf course.

The beautiful estate of Klein Constantia also produces excellent wines – and you can enjoy a free tasting in a lovely setting.

Close by, you’ll find the estate of Buitenverwachting, also renowned for its world-class wines. Spoil yourself and book a space at Buitenverwachting’s award-winning restaurant. For a less formal occasion, organise a picnic lunch and enjoy a feast out on the lawns.

Constantia Glen is the seventh producer in the valley.

There are numerous farm stalls, delis and restaurants throughout the Constantia suburb and the area is renowned for its gourmet offerings. Request a free wine and food map from any of Cape Town Tourism’s Visitor Information Centres or ask us for details on the best food and wine experiences in the area. Call +27 21 787 9140 for the best local advice or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

If you’re feeling energetic, the Constantia green belt offers a variety of scenic walks on the slopes of Table Mountain (+27 21 701 8692; www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/). Constantia Nek is the starting point for many of these walks. For bird-watchers, Cecelia Forest is a good place to twitch.

Ask a friendly Cape Town Tourism consultant to assist you with more local information.

Flickr Images

An automatic feed of all Creative Commons-licensed images on Flickr using the text “ Constantia Vineyards ”.

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