One of the very few appellations in the world just minutes outside of a city, the Constantia wine route includes five producers, each with a rich history and winemaking that dates back to late 1600s. The original Constantia farm was cultivated by Simon van der Stel and today the smaller farms, into which the original was divided, produce unique, award winning wines that benefit from the cool sea breezes blowing across False Bay just a few kilometres away.

The Constantia valley, just 20 minutes outside of Cape Town’s city bowl, is breathtakingly beautiful, with vineyard rows that stretch up the eastern slopes of the Constantiaberg mountainside. The route is an easy morning or day trip and the farms provide quality restaurants for lunches and tea. Rich in heritage and beauty, Constantia Wine Route is made up of three famous wine estates, namely Buitenverwachting, Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia. Constantia was one of the first wine-producing areas of the Western Cape.

Groot Constantia is one of the first and finest examples of Cape Dutch architecture. The homestead is exquisitely furnished with antiques. The Wine Museum has a number of interesting exhibits, including stoneware dating from 500 BC to the present day. Wine can be sampled and purchased on the estate. There are two restaurants on the estate. Wine tours are conducted daily. Buitenverwachting is famed for its fine wines and an elegant restaurant. Klein Constantia also has an old Cape Dutch homestead, open to the public for wine tasting and sales.

The Constantia Wine Farms are all within close proximity to one another and it is possible to visit all of the farms in a day or 1/2 a day depending on how much time you spend at each estate. In peak season it is advisable to book ahead of time for lunch, as the restaurants on the various farms are very popular. Visit Spaanschemat River Cafe at Constantia Uitsig for light salads and cafe style dishes and Jonkershuis restaurant at Groot Constantia for traditional Cape Malay style dishes, as well as delicious afternoon teas.

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