Constantia wine
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Story of Vin de Constance
Recreating one of the most famous wines in the world is an epic story.
Click here to read the full story of the original Constantia wine and its modern-day counterpart.
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Constantia wines get special bottles from 2005 with a unifying motif embossed in the glass of the new burgundy & claret bottles.
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The five estates open to the public making up the Constantia Wine Route are big in quality, rich in a unique terroir and boast a winemaking history dating back to 1685.
While sweet wines gave this area is legendary appeal, Constantia is also renowned for dry whites and reds of top international standard. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir now thrive in the valley.
Of the estates, only Groot Constantia caters for tour busses and large groups. At all the others you are assured a less frenetic ambience.
| Wine Estate times |
Mon-Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
| Buitenverwachting |
09:00-17:00 |
09:00-13:00 |
— |
| Constantia Uitsig |
09:00-17:00 |
09:00-13:00 |
— |
| Groot Constantia |
09:00-17:00 |
09:00-17:00 |
09:00-17:00 |
| Klein Constantia |
09:00-16:00 |
10:00-12:30 |
— |
| Steenberg |
09:00-16:00 |
10:00-12:30 |
— |
Much has been made of Cape Town's recent 'drought', but it appears that Constantia has been fortunate with its rainfall. Its recent rainfall has matched averages whereas, it seems, inland areas (where Cape Town's main dams are located) have not been as fortunate. The following figures reflect rainfall (in millimetres) at Klein Constantia over the past nine years.
| |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
Ave
| %
|
| Totals |
906 |
948 |
1037 |
885 |
1502 |
1099 |
970 |
1072 |
|
1052 |
100 |
| January |
17 |
20 |
9 |
25 |
25 |
122 |
30 |
12 |
31 |
32 |
3 |
| February |
11 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
30 |
20 |
7 |
|
10 |
1 |
| March |
16 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
25 |
141 |
25 |
|
29 |
3 |
| April |
63 |
71 |
112 |
19 |
78 |
80 |
38 |
111 |
|
71 |
7 |
| May |
111 |
251 |
73 |
120 |
211 |
186 |
55 |
20 |
|
128 |
12 |
| June |
198 |
145 |
152 |
141 |
169 |
146 |
35 |
165 |
|
144 |
14 |
| July |
57 |
162 |
249 |
268 |
433 |
248 |
92 |
129 |
|
205 |
19 |
| August |
271 |
75 |
206 |
69 |
327 |
118 |
254 |
324 |
|
205 |
20 |
| September |
19 |
73 |
145 |
170 |
134 |
35 |
133 |
86 |
|
99 |
9 |
| October |
24 |
34 |
24 |
32 |
79 |
79 |
84 |
150 |
|
63 |
6 |
| November |
97 |
65 |
50 |
16 |
24 |
20 |
8 |
29 |
|
39 |
4 |
| December |
22 |
36 |
14 |
25 |
6 |
10 |
80 |
14 |
|
30 |
3 |
 
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