Groot Constantia

This is South Africa’s Oldest Wine Producing Estate. It was founded in 1685. Explore this heritage site via the new Visitors Route Experience. One ticket gives you entrance to the Manor House Museum, the original Cloete Cellar, a cellar tour, wine tasting, and Spiegelau Crystal wine glass. Groot Constantia is open 7 days a week (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) Wine tastings are offered like chocolate and wine pairings, and there are two restaurants on-site: Jonkershuis Restaurant and Simon’s Restaurant.

In 1685, during his visit to the Cape, Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Drakenstein who was the colonial administrator for the Dutch East India Company granted the grounds of Groot Constantia to Simon van Der Stel the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope.

Simon Van der Stel built the manor house and farmed grapes for wine as well as other fruit and vegetables, some cattle farming also took place. Following the death of Van der Stel in 1712 the estate was broken up into three parts: Groot Constantia Klein Constantia and Bergvliet.

In 1779 the Cloete family acquired the portion of the estate that included Van der Stel’s Cape Dutch-style manor house. The house remained in the possession of the Cloete family until 1885, during which time the estate became famous for its production of wine.

In 1885 Groot Constantia was sold to the government of the Cape of Good Hope Following a disastrous fire. In 1925 the house was extensively restored. The house is now a national monument.

The hollowed-out European Oak tree in the Groot Constantia property is several centuries old. It is one of many found on the property. Rows of oak trees were planted to shield the vineyards from the gale force southeasterly winds. Also to provide wood to make wine barrels. Unfortunately, the wood was not suitable for this purpose because the oaks grow quickly in the Cape therefore producing only low-quality, porous wood.

It is said that the ghost of Simon Van Der Stel can sometimes be seen wandering around the gardens and sometimes takes a dip in the pool in summer.

You can walk around the property, or take the free VoiceMap audio tours for a guided exploration of the farm.

Groot Constantia Rd,