The Best Wine Farms in Constantia (2022)

The wine farms in Constantia are located close to the Cape Town city center, this is where wine making started in South Africa. The spectacular suburb of Constantia offers a wine route hosting the oldest wine farms in South Africa and produces some of the best wines in the country.

Best Wines to Taste on the Constantia Wine Route

Sauvignon Blanc – If you are a fan of white wine, the Sauvignon Blanc wines polished by the sea breeze of the nearby Atlantic Ocean in a not-to-miss place in Cape Town.

Bordeaux Blends – A red Bordeaux blend is a combination of two or more of the classic Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The Bordeaux blends created in Constantia Valley are a real treat and we had a fantastic time tasting our way around some of the best Bordeaux’s in South Africa, top-notch, international quality.

Dessert Wines – Constantia was famous for sweet dessert wines three hundred years ago and the modern dessert wines still produced in the region is a treat, taste the wine that originally put the Cape on the map! Make sure to include the Constantia Valley in your Cape Town itinerary.

Wine Tours in Constantia

Self drive is a great way to explore the Constantia wine route, rent a car. There are also some great wine tours from Cape Town. Get picked up at your accommodation and enjoy the knowledge of your local wine guides taking you to the best spots!

Amazing Constantia Wine Farms

The Constantia Valley Wine Route has a fantastic selection of wine farms, stunning views, delicious food, and of course award-winning wines. Wine tasting in Constantia is one of the most popular things to do in Cape Town.  The Wine of Origin District ‘Cape Town’ contains a total of 30 wine farms and is divided into the wards Constantia, Durbanville, Philadelphia and Hout Bay. For an excellent alternative wine tasting route to Constantia, visit the beautiful Durbanville Wine Route just outside Cape Town.

Beau Constantia

Beau Constantia is a boutique wine farm situated at the top of Constantia Nek with spectacular views of the Constantia Valley all the way to False Bay and the Helderberg Mountains. The beautifully designed venue blends perfectly with the natural environment and the whole estate is truly something special with even a soccer field in the vineyards.

Don’t miss the ‘loo with a view’, one-way glass results in a great view of the vineyards when using the restrooms.

Want to show-off Cape Town? You can not go wrong by taking your guests to one of the most beautiful farms in South Africa.

Wine Tasting at Beau Constantia

The Beau Constantia tasting room is one of our favorite tasting venues in all of the Cape Winelands, the views while tasting are fantastic you can even see the beach town Hangklip on a nice day! Tasting is offered inside or outdoors. The views where not the only thing we enjoyed, the wines were great.

Some of the wines were named after family members. Our favorite wine was the Lucca (2016) Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc with cherry and plum aromas. The Pas de nom MCC was another great wine, 100% Chardonnay with a rich, creamy yeasty aroma. This popular tasting room can get very busy and booking is recommended.

Award winning wines not to miss – Beau Constantia Stella 2017 (Shiraz), Beau Constantia Lucca 2016 (Red Blend)

Restaurant at Beau Constantia

Beau Constantia is home to the popular Chef’s Warehouse, dine with the best view in Cape Town. This popular fine dining restaurant offer a seasonal, produce-driven menu that changes regularly. Lunch service is from 12.00 until 14.30, from 17.30 until 19.30, Wednesday to Saturday and lunch only on Sundays. Reserve

Things To Do at Beau Constantia

Craft beer and gin tasting have become a very trendy thing in South Africa. Collaborating with  Guy Munton Private Artisanal Distiller, Beau Constantia produce some amazing Gin. The farm also sell craft beer and cider from Darling Breweries and Cluver & Jack Cider.

Buitenverwachting

The Beautiful wine farm Buitenverwachting is located on the east-facing slopes of Constantiaberg only a couple of kilometers from False Bay. The perfect place to eat, drink and enjoy the summer sun, with a mouth-watering platter on the rolling lawns of this amazing wine farm in the Constantia Valley surrounded by 250-year-old trees.

Buitenverwachting has an excellent coffee shop and deli. Top quality coffee even roasting their own beans. A new fine dining restaurant is busy opening on the premises, exiting times!

Wine Tasting at Buitenverwachting

The tasting venue is the historic thatch roofed Buitenverwachting cellar. The cellar makes for a very nice tasting venue. The area is beautiful with the old Dutch colonial style building, big lawn and large trees, but there are no views of the surrounding wine valley. It was a nice sunny day and we had a great tasting on the terrace overlooking the outstretched lawns. The tasting assistant had good knowledge of the wines and the area.

The area is well known for Sauvignon Blanc wines, but our clear favorite was the wooded Chardonnay and a bottle of this rich wine with hints of butterscotch went home with us. We do not often drink rose, but loved the Buitenverwachting 2020 rose, this Blanc de Noir ‘Bordeaux Blend’ had strong peach and strawberry flavours. If you want to take home a well priced white wine for everyday drinking, the Buitenblanc a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chenin Blanc is good value for money and great for a sunny summer braai. Casual charcuterie platters with fresh baguettes are available to eat while tasting on the lawn.

Award winning wines to try – Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Buitenverwachting ‘1769’ 2017 (Noble Late Harvest, 500ml)

• Reservations (021) 794 5190/1
• Wine tasting Monday – Saturday: 10h00 – 16h00
• Buitenverwachting is closed on Sundays

Restaurant at Buitenverwachting

Peter Tempelhoff, chef-patron of FYN Restaurant in Cape Town is busy opening a new fine dining restaurant at Buitenverwachting at the time of writing (December 2020). The restaurant will be headed up by chef  Julia du Toit, also of FYN.

Coffee at Buitenverwachting

Buitenverwachting’s Coffee shop, Coffee BloC, offers a variety of artisan coffees made from beans they roast fresh on site. We are a little bit coffee snobs and were happy with our caffeine fix made with the beans from local roaster Warren Machanik. If you are a coffee lover, don’t miss our guide to the best coffee shops in Cape Town.

A small breakfast menu as well and some pastries and cakes are also available.

COFFEE BLOC TIMES: Monday to Saturday – 8h00 to 16h00 – kitchen closes at 15:00, closed on Sundays

Coffee BloC Tel : 021 794 5190/1

Constantia Glen

Located on the slopes of the Constantiaberg mountain, below Constantia Nek, Constantia Glen is a beautiful boutique wine farm with unreal views of the surrounding wine valley. The best way I can describe the wine tasting at at this awesome farm is ‘super impressed’, with everything – the wines, the venue and the unreal views. Sitting on the verandah surrounded by vineyards overlooking the wine valley we had a fantastic morning eating a Flammkuchen for brunch and tasting some great wines.

Wine Tasting at Constantia Glen

The venue is fantastic, the old stables inside the vineyards has unreal views all the way to ocean, whether you choose to sit inside or outside. Our tasting assistant was great with a lot of knowledge about the wines, the history of the farms and gave us good tips for surrounding farms to visit. There were several tasting options.

The wines were all a bit pricey, but we loved all four wines and deciding what to buy was not easy. The names of the wines are very simple, each wine was named the number of cultivars making up the blend. Constantia Glen Two is a white wine made from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, light oak and tropical fruit flavors made this a great wine. Constantia Glen Three (2017) and Constantia Glen Five (2016) are two premium red Bordeaux blends. 5 was a more complex wine, but we loved the smooth 3 and took a bottle home for our next steak braai!

A variety of platters are available if you want to snack on something during your wine tasting. This is a fantastic location to show off Cape Town while enjoying a tasting and share a platter snacks.

I will recommend you book a tasting, this beautiful venue is very popular.

Award winning wine to taste – Constantia Glen Five 2015 (Red Blend), Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Restaurant at Constantia Glen

Basically sitting inside the vineyard, surrounded by towering mountains you are going to struggle to find lunch with a better view. The restaurant serves Platters, Flammkuchen, Mains, Salads and Desserts, it is not a fine dining restaurant (making it affordable). Some of the mains on the menu included; fillet, tuna, a beef burger, trout rosti and a vegan mushroom burger. We had the ‘winemakers Flammkuchen (thin based woodfired pizza), it was great for breakfast with boerewors pieces (local sausage) and eggs among the toppings.

Reserve a table  +27(0)21 795 5639 or  [email protected].

Opening times – Monday to Friday 10:00-17:00, Saturday 10:00 – 16:00

Constantia Uitsig

Located between the east-facing slopes of Constantia berg and False Bay, Constantia Uitsig is a unique and busy estate that has been making wine for 300 years. When you arrive you can’t miss the huge modern glass wine cellar, seeing the barrels and all the wine-making action through the walls. Tasting, eating and shopping takes place at Heritage Market, a walking lane lined by charming white restored laborer’s cottages that host a range of artisan craft producers including sushi, slow-churned ice cream, deluxe chocolates, craft beer, excellent single-origin coffee and more quality products to taste.

The popular working farm with its peaceful ambiance and fantastic views host a variety of venues and activities including the popular Block House kitchen and ‘The Bike Park’ mountain bike park designed and built for all levels and ages by previous South African Mountain Bike Champ Chris Nixon.

Constantia Uitsig was part of the original farm Constantia founded by Simon Van der Stel in 1685. Over the years Constantia Uitsig was part of Bergvliet, Buitenverwachting and ultimately Constantia View. The name Constantia View was changed in 1941 to the current name of the farm Constantia Uitsig.

Wine Tasting at Constantia Uitsig

The new Constantia Uitsig Cellar is a massive, beautiful glass building visible when entering the property. Wine tastings are however conducted at the wine shop, one of the charming white cottages, at the Heritage Market.

The most popular cultivars grown in Uitsig include Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. There is only one tasting option available for R60 including 4 wines. We really enjoyed the Natura Vista (a semillon/sauvignon blanc blend) and the Constantia Red an excellent Bordeaux blend. Artisanal cheese and charcuterie platters are available with the tasting.

Award winning wine to taste – Semillon 2018

Constantia Uitsig Heritage Market

Visit the Heritage Market with cozy shops for some top quality handmade produce.

The Sushi Box, created by renowned chef Christo Bornman, a relaxed, upmarket sushi experience.

Kristen’s Kick Ass Ice Cream – following our tasting we had an kick-ass ice cream at Kristen’s, a baked cone with a scoop of salted caramel and a scoop of dark chocolate and coffee ice cream. It was a huge ice cream, delicious. Everything is handmade from scratch – even the marshmallows, cookies and other condiments. Try freshly-made waffles, doughnuts, cookies and more!

Nest-Deli – we had an excellent breakfast and great coffee at Nest-Delhi. They also serve light lunches and cakes.

Aegir Project Ale House have a wide range of craft beers for sale.

The Bike Park at Constantia Uitsig

The Bike Park hosts a variety of trails and obstacles to improve the bike handling skills of cyclists of all levels and ages. Challenges in the park include a challenging track, dirt jump lines, rock gardens, narrow suspended paths, sand pit, drop offs and an awesome skybridge.

Bike rentals, skill coaching, repairs and a bike shop is available on the premises.

The Bike Park is open 09H00-17H00 7 days a week. Bike Park Booking essential

Restaurants at Constantia Uitsig

There are three restaurants at Constantia Uitsig; Nest Deli, La Grotto Ristorante and The Blockhouse Kitchen.

La Grotto Ristorante prepares authentic Italian dishes including Pizzas, Pastas, Seafood and Veal all made by hand using organic ingredients. Open:

Tuesday – Saturday for Lunch: 12:00 – 15:00, Monday: closed
Dinner: 18:00 – 22:00, Sunday: Lunch : 12:00-17:00 Bookings – 021 205 5622

The Blockhouse Kitchen is a relaxed and informal restaurant focusing on seasonal, local produce. They work with sustainable food and only follow ethical preparation practices. The Blockhouse Kitchen offers breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu includes a range of high end burgers, pastas, fish, lamb and pork dishes.

Blockhouse Kitchen – +27 21 794 3010 or [email protected]

Nest-Deli offer single-origin coffees, breakfasts, light lunches and cakes at the Heritage market.

Eagle’s Nest

Nestled at the top of Constantia Nek Pass, with vineyards spread out across the slopes of Constantia Mountain, Eagles Nest is only 10.5 km from the warm False Bay coast line. The beautiful tasting area with lush lawns and large trees is fantastic to enjoy a wine tasting and something to snack on in a relaxed atmosphere. We ate a delicious platter here, I can strongly recommend the cheese board. If you like red wines this is a great farm to visit, they produce some top notch Shiraz and Merlot wines.

Wine Tasting at Eagle’s Nest

We had a fantastic morning tasting wine at the tranquil setting in the garden at Eagle’s Nest. The garden scenery is beautiful, a well kept lawn and terrace with tasting benches under the massive trees. Because the tasting area is hidden in a forest of huge trees there is no view of the surrounding vineyards and Constantia valley. The tasting fee is R85 including 5 wines. Our favorite was the Eagle’s Nest Shiraz (2016) a fantastic wine with blackcurrant, blueberries, licorice and white pepper flavors. We enjoyed the Viognier (2018) with citrus and peach notes and were impressed by the easy drinking 2016 Merlot with cherry and berry fruit flavors. We loved the Artisan Cheese Platter with generous cheese cuts and the star was the amazing freshly baked bread, we bought an extra roll. They offered a variety of platters.

Award winning wines to try – Eagle’s Nest Viognier 2018, Eagle’s Nest Merlot 2015, Eagle’s Nest Shiraz 2016

Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia is the oldest wine producing farm in South Africa, established in 1685 by the VOC Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Simon van der Stel. The vineyards of Groot Constantia are located on the eastern side of Table Mountain with the estate overlooking False Bay.

The oldest wine estate in South Africa is one of the ‘must visit sites’ in Cape Town with plenty of exciting activities. Go on a guided or self-guided tour with the phone app. Visit the estate museum, vineyards and art gallery or get something to eat at the two top notch restaurants, Simon’s and the Jonkershuis under huge oak trees at the famed Manor House.

Simon Van der Stel, with both Simonstown and Stellenbosch named after him, could choose any position in the Cape to establish his farm.

Wine Tasting at Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia has three different tasting rooms, the bottom cellar at the entrance of the Estate with a wide selection of local art, the top cellar close to Simon’s restaurant and the historic Cloete Cellar where Grand Constance is made.

We tasted at the top cellar. The tasting room was small but functional, you can taste at the bar or around wine barrels in the tasting room. Unfortunately there is no outside tasting or any views of the beautiful Groot Constantia wine estate.

For your tasting, you have an option of ten wines, from which you can choose any five, the pourings are generous and we shared a tasting. We loved the Gouverneurs Reserve (2017), an excellent Bordeaux blend with dark chocolate and dark fruit aromas and the spicey Shiraz (2017) with liquorish notes of which we bought a bottle, I will try to keep it for a year or so (but that is highly unlikely!)

Constantia Wyn was made by Van der Stel on Constantia in the late 1600s, it was loved by emperors and kings 18th and 19th centuries, from Frederick the Great of Prussia to King Louis Phillipe of France and celebrated by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Modern day Grand Constance is not cheap at R771/$51 for a 375ml bottle, but a real treat. The Groot Constantia Grand Constance is made from Muscat d’Frontignan. The grapes are left on the vine to dessicate until it is close to being raisins. After fermentation the wine is matured in oak, without fortification. White Muscat is blended with a little red Muscat, giving a this dessert wine a beautiful amber colour.

Grand Constance was very popular in Napoleon’s era and the first vintage was relaunched in the modern era in 2005, made by award winning wine maker Boela Gerber. Ask nicely at the tasting, it is not included in the tasting, but we asked our host and we were lucky with an open bottle, it is really something special.

After tasting at Groot Constantia you can take your crystal glass home as a memento. There is a wine and chocolate pairing on offer with chocolates created to compliment the wines.

Award winning wines to try – Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2018, Groot Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Things to do at Groot Constantia

This is a large estate with many things to see. Do a guided tour or follow the Visitors Route. This circular route can be explored with the help of free smartphone apps. Download the phone apps and discover hidden gems on the estate during a self-guided tour, there are three free audio walking tours you can download! On the route, explore the original Cape Dutch Manor House, visit the famous Cloete Cellar where Grand Constance was made, explore the wine museum and cultural history museum.

Download the Groot Constantia Visitors Route app

Wine tasting times: 09h00 – 18h00 daily. Last tasting at 17h00

Restaurants at Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia has two well known restaurants on site: Jonkershuis and Simon’s.

Jonkershuis Constantia is in the center of the Groot Constantia Wine Estate next to the historic Homestead and surrounded by ancient oak trees. The restaurant serves decadent breakfasts and lunches next to the fire place in winter or under the ancient oak trees on a nice summers day.

Tel: 021-794 6255 |  [email protected]

Simon’s restaurant has relaxed Al Fresco or A La Carte meals and special outdoor picnics. They serve a mix of classic and unique dishes including Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder, Braised Pork Belly, Burgers, Classic Fish & Chips or vegetarian options.

Tel: 021 794 1143 | Email: [email protected] 

Klein Constantia

With a fantastic setting on the Constantia mountain slopes, Klein Constantia has the perfect setting for producing quality wine and has picturesque vistas over False Bay and the Constantia valley. Klein means ‘small’ and Klein Constantia was part of the vast Constantia property founded in 1685 until 1712.

Wine Tasting at Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia has a nice tasting room with an informal atmosphere about a kilometer’s drive up a narrow road from the farm entrance. I loved that you can see into the cellar during tasting, but the tasting room does not have any views of the Constantia valley. Upon entry there are some well presented facts about the history of the farms on the Constantia wine routes. A large glass panel allows you to see inside the cellar while enjoying your tasting with a view over the barrels and tanks inside this legendary cellar. The tasting assistant was helpful and could answer our questions regarding the wines and the history of the farm.

Several tasting options are available, a Classic tasting including a classic and premium tasting.

The Signature Sauvignon Blanc tasting includes 5 different Sauvignon Blancs including some limited and unreleased wines.

The food and wine pairing is nice with 5 wines paired with an combination of local cheeses, pâtés & nougat.

Vin de Constance tasting – taste 3 library vintages of this iconic wine alongside the current releases. The legendary sweet wines of Constantia was made here on the original Constantia estate. In the modern era Klein Constantia was the first to attempt to relaunch the popular Constantia Wyn, loved by Napoleon, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Winemaker Adam Mason worked with academics to recreate this legendary wine. Klein Constantia is world-renowned for its revival of Vin de Constance that it launched in 1986. This historic sweet wine is something unique and it is great that this pricey dessert wine is also included in both tasting options.

Award winning wines not to miss – Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2016, Klein Constantia Brut 2016 (MCC)

Restaurant at Klein Constantia

The Bistro at Klein Constantia is located next to the tasting room under the Jacaranda trees and focus on fresh locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Cordon Bleau chef Graham Davies aims to showcase the rich culinary history of South Africa with his strong European influence.

[email protected] +27 21 794 5188

Things To Do at Klein Constantia

There are a couple of nice tours including tastings available on the estate.

Klein Constantia Cellar Tour and Estate Tasting – 45 minute guided tour of the cellar followed by an estate tasting of your choice.

Klein Constantia vineyard tour and estate tasting Guided tour of the vineyard takes about 60 minutes, stop at the dam for a tasting of our Brut Methode Cap Classique, followed by an estate tasting of your choice.

Steenberg

Registered in 1682 Steenberg is the oldest farm in South Africa. The farm has an amazing tasting venue, we loved the ambience; the décor is modern yet unique. Sit in the elegant tasting lounge or relax on the terrace surrounded by infinity pools to enjoy your tasting. The estate has a golf course, award winning hotel, spa and two restaurants, the bistro-style Sixteen Eighty-Two and the fine dining restaurant Tryn.

Wine Tasting at Steenberg

The tasting venue at Steenberg is fantastic. You can sit inside (with amazing views of the surroundings) or outside on the terrace surrounded by infinity pools. There are several options for tasting; the Express tasting, Classic tasting and the flagship tasting. We had a flagship tasting offering 6 wines in the Steenberg flagship range. Our tasting assistant was great with extensive knowledge of the wines and the area. The Nebbiolo (2017) was quite unique since we are not really familiar with this Italian red wine grape variety. Our favorite was the Steenberg Catharina (2017) Bordeaux-style blend with cherry and dark chocolate flavors.

Steenberg Hotel

The five star Steenberg Hotel offers a unique combination of heritage, fine wine and excellent cuisine. The hotel has a spa centre and hosts a championship golf course. Luxury accommodation, stunning scenery & peaceful ambiance on the Constantia wine route. Booking and Reviews.

The Steenberg Hotel was voted Best Luxury Hotel in Africa in 2011 by TripAdvisor

Restaurants at Steenberg

Tryn – is a Contemporary Restaurant; beautiful fine dining overlooking the garden, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Named after founder of the farm Catharina (Tryn) Ustings Ras. Executive Chef Kerry Kilpin and her team combine Asian, Middle Eastern and classically prepared dishes in unique ways. Guests can order drinks at the bar and enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Reservations are required. +27 21 713 7178 [email protected]
Bistro Sixteen82 – Named after the year in which Steenberg was established, 1682. Popular for tapas and bistro-style food; breakfast, lunch, and light fare. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining (weather permitting). Reservations are required. Open daily. +27 21 713 2211 [email protected]

Things to do at Steenberg

Steenberg Spa is a state of the art facility with 4 treatment rooms including rooms for couples and outdoor treatment areas. Services that are available include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and facials. The spa is open daily.

Other facilities available on site

• Golfing
• Golf driving range
• Helicopter/airplane tours
• Hiking/biking trails

Constantia, a little bit of histor

Attractions on the Constantia Wine Route

Wine tasting is not all about wine, some other factors to consider when planning your tasting route:

• Best views – Beau Constantia and Constantia Glen
• An awesome cup of coffee – Coffee BloC at Buitenverwacht
• Favorite Snack – Flammkuchen at Constantia Glenn or Artisan Cheese Platter with freshly baked bread at Eagle’s Nest
• Adrenaline activity – The Bike Park at Constantia Uitsig
• Learn something about history – Self-guided estate tour of the Groot Constantia estate with a phone app.
• Family day – a variety of amazing handmade produce, from sushi to ice-cream at the Heritage Market Constantia Uitsig.
• Spa – want to get pampered? go to the state of the art spa at Steenberg.

The beautiful drive around the Constantia Valley is one of the most scenic road trips in Cape Town.

Cape Town Planning Resources

The strong half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that would be happy to spend all his life in the water diving, surfing and spearfishing but often has to compromise with Alya and go hiking instead. Campbell is responsible for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves traveling, braai (BBQ in South Africa), red wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.