The Constantia Valley is truly Cape Town’s Vineyard
The oldest wine-making region in the southern hemisphere, dating back to 1685, Constantia Valley is today the Cape’s most intimate wine route consisting of nine wine farms, each with their own distinctive heritage and premium wines.
Enjoyed by Napoleon Bonaparte and royalty in the 18th century, Constantia Valley’s unique combination of terroir and climate produces some of the world’s finest wines that continue to this day to win accolades and international awards for consistently high standard and quality.
Groot Constantia
The Groot Constantia heritage attributes a unique status to the Estate. Its early history and international recognition made Groot Constantia the first intellectual property of the South African wine industry and of the county at large.
Its heritage makes Groot Constantia unique. Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine producing farm, boasting a proud heritage of 327 years. Since its inception in 1685 the Estate has had a history of uninterrupted wine production, an achievement that cannot be claimed by any other wine farm in South Africa – nor in the Southern Hemisphere. This achievement makes Groot Constantia’s trademark one of the oldest surviving trademarks in the world today.
Across the years the wine produced on the Estate has caught the attention of influential people across the globe – clearly due to its impressive quality. Global Aristocracy made sure that they had enough stock of this acclaimed and precious product. It is recorded that one year King Louis Philippe of France ordered the entire vintage of Groot Constantia. A glass of Groot Constantia wine was one of Napoleon’s last wishes before he died in exile on St Helena. The British Royal family, Frederic the Great of Prussia, to name but a few, have all appreciated the quality of the wine. Further testimony is the recent discovery in 2004 of a portion of a wine bottle from Groot Constantia off Lewes, Delaware, USA, which originated from a ship that stranded there in 1774.
Central to the success of this Estate is its terroir, enabling it to produce wine of impressive quality over ages. People and their influences come and go but the terroir has remained the same and allowed the Estate over centuries to produce wine of exceptional quality, even though major changes in wine styles have been introduced over time. Groot Constantia’s terroir, consisting of inter alia nine different soil types, different altitudes (from 75m to 250m above sea level), slopes facing in various directions, cool maritime air blown in by the predominant South Easter breezes during the growing season, forms the foundation of our heritage.
The heritage of Groot Constantia that is embodied in its wine quality, lists of clients, architecture, employees, slaves, owners, traditions, winemaking methods etc, was shaped by various cultural groups and happenings over time. Groot Constantia in all its facets is a truly South African product, shaped by the rainbow nation and which is all earthed and embodied in a piece of land with a magnificent setting behind the world renowned Table Mountain and visited by 300 000 visitors every year.
Regardless of development pressures on farming land in the heart of a prosperous city, the concept of having a historic farm portraying a part of a country’s cultural and winemaking history, stood the test of time. It is truly a conservation miracle, not easily found anywhere in the world, and a very valuable image builder for South Africa and the South African wine industry.
Groot Constantia wines available include:
Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Gouverneurs Reserve (White) 2010
Chardonnay 2011
Cap Classique 2008
Blanc de Noir 2011
Constantia Rood 2010
Merlot 2010
Shiraz 2010
Shiraz (No sulphur) 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Gouverneurs Shiraz 2009
Gouverneurs Reserve 2009
Cape Ruby Port 2010
Grand Constance 2009
Groot Constantia recent Wine Awards:
Shiraz 2009 - Classic Wine Trophy 2012 Gold
Shiraz 2009 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4 star
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4.5 star
Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4 star
Pinotage 2010 - Classic Wine Trophy 2012 Gold
Merlot 2009 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4 star
Grand Constance 2009 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4 star
Gouverneurs Reserve (White)2010 -Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4.5 star
Gouverneurs Reserve 2009 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4.5 star
Chardonnay 2010 Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4.5 star
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Platter's South African Wine Guide 2012 4 star
Shiraz 2009 Veritas 2011 Silver
Shiraz 2008 Top 100 SA Wines 2011 Gold
Shiraz 2008 - Syrah-Du-Monde 2011 Gold.*International
Shiraz 2008 - Classic Wine Trophy 2011 Gold - Best Red Wine
Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - Wine-of-the-Month Club 2011 Top 20
Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Platter's South African Wine Guide 2011 4 star
Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2011 Bronze
Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - International Wine Challenge (UK) 2011 Gold
Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Classic Wine Trophy 2011 Gold
Pinotage 2009 - Classic Wine Trophy 2011 Gold
Merlot 2009 - Veritas 2011 Silver
Merlot 2009 - Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2011 Bronze
Grand Constance 2008 - International Wine Challenge (UK)2011 Gold
Gouverneurs Semillon 2009 - Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2011 Bronze
Gouverneurs Reserve (White)2010 - Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2011 Silver
Gouverneurs Reserve (White)2009 - S.A Terroir Wine Awards 2011 Top White blend in the Constantia district
Gouverneurs Reserve 2009 - Veritas 2011 Double Gold
Gouverneurs Reserve 2009 - SA Wine Index 2011. One of Top 24 wines in South Africa
Gouverneurs Reserve 2009 - S.A Terroir Wine Awards 2011 Top Red blend in the Constantia district
Gouverneurs Chardonnay 2009 - Classic Wine Trophy 2011 Gold - Best White Wine
Main Contact Details
Address:
Private Bag X1, Constantia, 7848 South Africa
GPS: S 34° 01’ 37,03” E 18° 25’ 28,84”
Fax:
+27 (0)21 794-1999
Phone:
+27 (0)21 794-5128
Cell:
Business Hours:
Open 9am - 6pm Mon - Sun. Cellar tours every hour on the hour 10am - 4pm.
Website:
www.grootconstantia.co.za
E-Mail:
enquiries@grootconstantia.co.za
Additional Information:
- Museum
- Open public holidays
- Restaurant
- Cellar tours