History
In 1685 Simon van der Stel, Governor of the Cape, picked the slopes of the Constantiaberg for his farm after surveying the soils of the peninsula. Decomposed granite and cool sea air made it the most famous vineyard at the Cape. When he died in 1712 Constantia was split up, and one part became Klein Constantia.
In the 18th and 19th centuries the sweet wine of Constantia was one of the most famous wines in the world. The estate says it was enjoyed by Napoleon and praised by Jane Austen. Then it faded. Duggie Jooste bought the estate in 1980 and brought it back with the winemaker Ross Gower, the architect Gawie Fagan and Professor Chris Orffer. The first modern vintage came in 1986, and Vin de Constance itself was revived soon after.
In May 2011 Zdenek Bakala and Charles Harman bought the estate. A year later Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus and Bruno Prats, formerly of Cos d'Estournel, merged their Stellenbosch estate, Anwilka, into Klein Constantia and became shareholders. Hubert de Boüard is the same man who owns Château La Fleur de Boüard.
Grapes, vineyards and winemaking
The estate sits high on the foothills of the Constantiaberg among old trees, facing False Bay. It's cool for South Africa, with sea breezes and decomposed granite soils, and it's best known for white wine. Sauvignon Blanc is the main grape.
Matthew Day is only the third winemaker since the 1980s revival. He was promoted to head winemaker in the early 2010s and now also makes the wine at Anwilka.
Farming and how it's run today
The estate talks about precision, sustainability and biodiversity across its 146 hectares, and has published a farming philosophy document. It doesn't claim organic certification.
Wines we stock
Estate Sauvignon Blanc is the estate's main white, from its granite slopes.
Estate Red Blend is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend whose other grapes change with the vintage.
