Map The Wine

Map / South Africa

Constantia

The oldest wine-growing area in South Africa, on the cool eastern slopes of Table Mountain, near Cape Town.

Northern CapeKwaZulu-NatalFree StateEastern CapeLimpopoNorth WestMpumalangaWestern CapeGautengPaarlStellenboschConstantiaGroot Constantia
The shaded area contains the region, and the rounded shape shows its rough extent; the gold dot marks its centre. Drag to pan, or use the buttons or Ctrl and scroll to zoom. Other regions of South Africa are linked on the map.

Where it is

Constantia is a valley on the south side of Cape Town, on the eastern slopes of the Constantiaberg, facing False Bay. It was granted to Simon van der Stel, governor of the Cape, in 1685.

History

Constantia's sweet Vin de Constance was famous in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe, and was reportedly enjoyed by figures such as Napoleon. The wine was revived in the 1980s.

Grapes and wines

Cool sea breezes from False Bay allow Sauvignon Blanc to do well, and Constantia also makes Semillon, Chardonnay and Bordeaux-style reds. Vin de Constance is a sweet wine from Muscat de Frontignan.