Klein Constantia

Described as one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards, Klein Constantia is set amidst ancient trees and lush greenery on the upper foothills of the Constantiaber.

Its history dates back to 1685, when an enormous tract of land was granted to the Dutch East India Company’s 10th commander at the Cape, Simon van der Stel. He had specifically requested this property on the undulating foothills of Table Mountain’s backbone not only for its beauty, but also for its decomposed granite soils on slopes gently cooled by ocean breezes – the perfect conditions for quality winegrowing. It was about 15 times the size of a normal land grant and he named it Constantia, perhaps signifying his intention to make the Cape his constant or permanent home.

After all, trends come and go, as do people, but the maritime and mountain influences on the estate remain unchanging, as do the ancient soils – predominantly deep, fertile, yellowish-brown and reddish-brown Oakleaf on the lower slopes, and dry, gravelly, less fertile Glenrosa with a saprolite subsoil higher up. Perfect conditions in which to grow one of the greatest and most intriguing sweet wines in the world, as well as a range of other exceptional cool-climate wines, most notably Sauvignon Blanc.