It is with great pleasure and pride that Groot Constantia mark the occasion of their birth - 334 years ago! Born on 13 July 1685, weighing in at 891 Morgan to father Simon van der Stel, the Estate was christened “Constantia”, and the name has rung true for 334 years as Groot Constantia has stood the test of time! In the past 10 years alone the Estate’s wines have won over 100 awards.
It’s no secret how beautiful the Constantia valley is! But more than beauty is how sustainable the caretakers are of the valley we’re in, and we are extremely proud to once again celebrate our conservation champion status with World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Growing up, I remember watching a popular chocolate advert in the 90’s, where the animated kid sits next to a friend eating his stack of chocolate covered candies and finally gets to his last piece, and wonders just looking at his glum friend to share it or instead savour that last little bit of deliciousness. He of course decides to share his last piece of chocolate with the friend.
And thus the oldest wine-producing farm in South Africa was founded, and became the origin of the South African wine industry. With an uninterrupted history of wine production since 1685, Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine-producing Estate and the 13th of July sees this iconic Cape wine Estate celebrating its 334th birthday.
The first week of July saw South Africans celebrating Sparkling Wine Week. There is indeed something about sipping on some bubbly that adds sophistication to any occasion and no celebration is complete without adding some. There are three main types of bubbles: Champagne, Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) and Sparkling wine – but what is the difference between these three?
South African Wine Index (SAWi) has announced the winners of its annual Grand Wines Collection awards, naming the best wines in South Africa, and Groot Constantia has won two-dozen top awards.
Rosé Day is observed across the world annually on the second Saturday in June. A winemaker was recently asked who was drinking rosé and he replied “mostly women and smart…
Take a step back in time with modern technology The Groot Constantia virtual tour is a simulation of the heritage core’s buildings, and is composed of a sequence of videos…
Groot Constantia is currently demolishing derelict buildings on the Estate that were used in the past as laborers Cottages. These buildings, which have no historic value, have been unoccupied for years and serve no purpose at Groot Constantia. They have however fallen into disrepair and become an attraction for vagrants and criminal elements, which pose a threat to our workers community.
Celebrating The Abundance Of This Centuries Old Estate
Groot Constantia has launched a new red wine named Lady of Abundance which promises to have red wine enthusiasts keenly anticipating each years unique vintage as it rolls out the cellar door.
This special blend made up from Pinotage, Shiraz, and Merlot, had award winning winemaker for Groot Constantia, Boela Gerber, test his extensive wine-making skills – and the results are exceptional.
Kindly be advised that all picnic baskets must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance from either Jonkershuis or Simons Restaurant. Additionally, guests are not permitted to bring their own picnic baskets or food onto the estate.
Kind Regards,
The Groot Constantia Team
