Constantia Wine Farms

About the Constantia Winelands

Just 20 minutes from Cape Town CBD, Constantia is the country's oldest wine region and produces some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc and Vin de Constance dessert wine on earth.

Constantia sits on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, a leafy suburban valley of oaks, silver trees and old Cape Dutch manor houses. The cool Atlantic breezes off False Bay make this the coolest wine ward in the Western Cape — perfect for aromatic whites and elegant reds.

History

Wine has been made in Constantia since 1685, when Governor Simon van der Stel established Groot Constantia. Its Vin de Constance dessert wine was famously loved by Napoleon, Bismarck and Jane Austen's characters — a bottle a day was sent to Napoleon during his exile on St Helena.

What makes Constantia special

Constantia is the only major wine region in the world inside a metropolitan area. You can be tasting museum-grade Sauvignon Blanc thirty minutes after leaving Cape Town's V&A Waterfront. It is the ideal wine day for travellers who don't want to leave the city, or as a pre-flight stop on the way to the airport.

Best time to visit

Year-round. The cool coastal climate means the region is more comfortable in summer than the inland valleys, and the winter estates come alive with fireplaces and long lunches.

Getting there

20 minutes from Cape Town CBD, 15 minutes from the V&A Waterfront, 25 minutes from Cape Town International. All estates cluster within a 5-minute radius of each other, making three-cellar days effortless.

Why go with Constantia

• Closest wine region to Cape Town — no early start required
• World-famous Vin de Constance dessert wine
• Cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc that rivals the Loire
• Perfect pre-flight or half-day option

A perfect day in Constantia

1. 10:30

   Groot Constantia — the original 1685 estate

2. 12:30

   Lunch at Beau Constantia or La Colombe

3. 14:30

   Sauvignon Blanc tasting at Klein Constantia

4. 16:00

   Return to Cape Town or continue to the airport