Groot Constantia - the oldest and grandest vineyard in the Cape
One of Cape Town's so-called 'Big 6' - the city's must-see sights, Groot Constantia was one of the first vineyards planted in South Africa, laid out by Cape Governor, Simon van der Stel in 1685. His original plantation was split in two in 1713 and the Groot and Klein (Great and Little) Constantia estates were born.
Constantia Wine
The real glory days of Groot Constantia began with the arrival of Hendrik Cloete in 1778.
In all five generations of the Cloete family made wine here and it was during their era that Constantia wine rose to become world-famous, its praises sung by everyone from Charles Darwin and Jane Austen to Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a golden era that couldn't last.
The re-emergence of French wine, the destructive power of phylloxera and the cruelty of war all conspired to kill off the famous sweet dessert wine, but production limped on. Over recent years, Groot Constantia has again flourished as a vineyard and since 1994 is once again taking its rightful place on the international stage. In 2010, as part of the estate's celebration of its 325th anniversary, it launched a modern version of the original dessert wine. Groot Constantia Grand Constance is a blend of red and white Muscat de Frontignan grapes. A rich amber colour, it is filled with flavours of caramel, dried apricots and raisins with hints of pineapple and honey. The bottle is based on an original "Constantia Wyn" bottle from 1774, from a shipwreck in Delaware Bay, discovered in 2004.
More about Constantia Wine and Constantia restaurants...
The Museums
Today as well as tastings you can visit the manor house, original cellars and an orientation centre. The original manor house was built by Governor van der Stel but given a massive makeover by the Cloetes in 1790, who brought in architect Louis Thibault to design them a luxurious mansion. It suffered from a devastating fire in 1925 but has been meticulously restored to the original plans and remains one of the largest and most graceful Cape-Dutch mansions in South Africa, with heavy wooden ceiling, flagged floors and the trademark white walls and green shutters. The gleaming solid furniture belongs to the late 18th century.
Behind the house, the Old Cellars are now part of the museum. Look above the entrance as you enter. The pediment was carved by one of South Africa's finest sculptors, Anton Anreith, in 1791. Inside is a small museum of wine with various bottles, glasses and bits of wine-making equipment. The Orientation Centre has a number of historic photos of the house, a scale model of the estate. There are also fascinating displays discussing the use of slavery on the estate during its early years with attempts to trace the lives of individual slaves. Carriages are on display in the Coach House.
Eating and drinking
And if this is not enough, there are two excellent restaurants on the estate. Jonkershuis (tel: +27 21 794 6255) set in one of the old estate buildings, is an indoor/outdoor restaurant with views across False Bay and a menu that includes many traditional South African dishes. It's open all day and evening for coffees and teas, lunch and dinner. Sleek Simon's (tel: +27 21 794 1143) is more 21st-century, serving gourmet versions of old favourites from burgers to bunny chow. In summer months, both restaurants will put together a gourmet picnic for lunch on the terrace or the lawn if you pre-order.
Practical details
You can buy wines and do tastings seven days a week. There are also hourly cellar tours between 10.00 and 16.00 to see wine-making in process in the new cellars. There are separate admission charges for tastings (which include 5 wines and a souvenir tasting glass), the cellar tours, and for the museums.
Address: Groot Constantia Road, Constantia, Cape Peninsula. About 15 km (10 miles) south of the city centre off the M3.
Tel: +27 21 794 5128
Web: http://www.grootconstantia.co.za/
Constantia Wine
The real glory days of Groot Constantia began with the arrival of Hendrik Cloete in 1778.
In all five generations of the Cloete family made wine here and it was during their era that Constantia wine rose to become world-famous, its praises sung by everyone from Charles Darwin and Jane Austen to Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a golden era that couldn't last.
The re-emergence of French wine, the destructive power of phylloxera and the cruelty of war all conspired to kill off the famous sweet dessert wine, but production limped on. Over recent years, Groot Constantia has again flourished as a vineyard and since 1994 is once again taking its rightful place on the international stage. In 2010, as part of the estate's celebration of its 325th anniversary, it launched a modern version of the original dessert wine. Groot Constantia Grand Constance is a blend of red and white Muscat de Frontignan grapes. A rich amber colour, it is filled with flavours of caramel, dried apricots and raisins with hints of pineapple and honey. The bottle is based on an original "Constantia Wyn" bottle from 1774, from a shipwreck in Delaware Bay, discovered in 2004.
More about Constantia Wine and Constantia restaurants...
The Museums
Today as well as tastings you can visit the manor house, original cellars and an orientation centre. The original manor house was built by Governor van der Stel but given a massive makeover by the Cloetes in 1790, who brought in architect Louis Thibault to design them a luxurious mansion. It suffered from a devastating fire in 1925 but has been meticulously restored to the original plans and remains one of the largest and most graceful Cape-Dutch mansions in South Africa, with heavy wooden ceiling, flagged floors and the trademark white walls and green shutters. The gleaming solid furniture belongs to the late 18th century.
Behind the house, the Old Cellars are now part of the museum. Look above the entrance as you enter. The pediment was carved by one of South Africa's finest sculptors, Anton Anreith, in 1791. Inside is a small museum of wine with various bottles, glasses and bits of wine-making equipment. The Orientation Centre has a number of historic photos of the house, a scale model of the estate. There are also fascinating displays discussing the use of slavery on the estate during its early years with attempts to trace the lives of individual slaves. Carriages are on display in the Coach House.
Eating and drinking
And if this is not enough, there are two excellent restaurants on the estate. Jonkershuis (tel: +27 21 794 6255) set in one of the old estate buildings, is an indoor/outdoor restaurant with views across False Bay and a menu that includes many traditional South African dishes. It's open all day and evening for coffees and teas, lunch and dinner. Sleek Simon's (tel: +27 21 794 1143) is more 21st-century, serving gourmet versions of old favourites from burgers to bunny chow. In summer months, both restaurants will put together a gourmet picnic for lunch on the terrace or the lawn if you pre-order.
Practical details
You can buy wines and do tastings seven days a week. There are also hourly cellar tours between 10.00 and 16.00 to see wine-making in process in the new cellars. There are separate admission charges for tastings (which include 5 wines and a souvenir tasting glass), the cellar tours, and for the museums.
Address: Groot Constantia Road, Constantia, Cape Peninsula. About 15 km (10 miles) south of the city centre off the M3.
Tel: +27 21 794 5128
Web: http://www.grootconstantia.co.za/