Groot Constantia Estate

The Groot Constantia wine estate, founded in 1685 is irrevocably linked to the most famous wines made in South Africa. So little was produced and was of such uncompromising quality that it was exclusively bought and consumed by the aristocracy of the world.

Simon van der Stel, the popular commander and later governor of the Cape, was granted the land for a farm, which he named Constantia. On his death the property was divided and a smaller farm created around the homestead and its outbuildings.

The estate passed through a number of hands until it was bought by Hendrik Cloete in 1778. Groot Constantia wine estate remained in the hands of the Cloete family for five generations. It was they who did most to beautify the estate and was during their tenure that Constantia wines, whose unique quality had already acquired an international reputation, were much sought after by the royal courts of Europe, the rich and the famous. The estate was then sold to the Cape Government at a public auction in 1885. The purpose was that the estate should become a model for viticulture and commercially viable.

The estate is today owned by the Groot Constantia Trust, an association which is committed to maintain and restore this national monument which is South Africa's oldest and best known wine estate. Constantia stands as a pinion of excellence for the wine industry and is an ideal example for the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the country. It is a fully operational farm, one of South Africa's most visited tourist attractions, where a wide range of quality wines are created and sold daily. Other attractions, including restaurants and museums with a collection of artefacts, including furniture and art, reflect the rich cultural tradition of the Cape makeing a visit an unforgettable experience.