An area often overshadowed by the larger Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine regions in the Western Cape, Constantia offers a unique experience for wine lovers visiting Cape Town. Just a 20-minute drive from the city center, it makes for a great day out, either on its own or as part of a tour of the Cape Peninsula. Constantia boasts stunning scenery with vineyards nestled between mountains and the cool ocean breeze. There are several wineries to visit, many with historical old buildings, gorgeous tasting rooms, and you are quite literally spoilt for choice in terms of excellent dining options.
The Constantia Valley is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in South Africa. The history of the farm Groot Constantia, dates back to 1685 when it was granted to its first owner, the Dutch Commander, Simon van der Stel (1639-1712). The Iziko Orientation Centre in the Jonkershuis Complex on Groot Constantia has a museum dedicated to the history of the area, including the Khoi-San people who were the first inhabitants of the Cape and the slave trade that formed part of the wine industry in the area.
Arguably some of the valley’s most famous wines are the prized Vin de Constance and Grand Constance, the legendary sweet wines that the area was famous for in the 18th century. The wine was enjoyed across Europe by royalty and nobility such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Frederick the Great. The first barrels of sweet Constantia wine were shipped to Europe in 1692, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that they enjoyed legendary status. The two properties Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia are both open to visitors and you can taste and purchase the modern version of these wines.
One of the stars on the restaurant circuit in the area has to be La Colombe! For as long as I can remember I have been wanting to dine here, unfortunately the price point when traveling with three kids in the past has made this impossible, but finally I could make it happen this year and got a last minute lunch booking with our guest from the US and one very lucky son who offered to drive us! With it being low season in the Cape, many restaurants offer reduced winter menus, basically meaning superb food for (relatively) reasonable prices. Worth checking out if you head to Cape Town during the off season.
The experience did not disappoint! From the moment you arrive in the elegant space with its wooden floors and amazing views, you are captivated. La Colombe is simply a delight, consistently ranking among the world’s top restaurants, most recently claiming the title of Best Restaurant in Africa and currently number 49 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
As a lunch option, it offers a fairly relaxed atmosphere for a fine dining restaurant. The spacious dining room boasts stunning mountain views and overlooks the restaurant’s own vegetable garden.
The staff are attentive with sommeliers, chefs and various others stopping by your table at some point to introduce the next course or fine wine, including one of the chefs with a trolley that has the entire menu in its uncooked form displayed and explained to you. The courses flow easily, starting with a freshly baked bread and the charcuterie trolley which is like a treasure trove of local products, cured meats and various pates. The signature dish of “Tuna La Colombe” – a can of perfectly arranged tuna uniquely presented alongside a spicy “secret” sauce is both a delight to look at and to eat! The following courses comprised a seafood and quail dish, a nitro citrus palate cleanser and the meat dish of incredibly tender karoo lamb.
Dessert was a light, perfectly sized, delicately flavoured berry, fennel and geranium dish, followed by some mint tea and the petit four chest.
The accompanying wines were well matched, a celebration of some unique wines with a few local and a few from lesser known areas in the Western Cape. We had the Classic Wine Flight to accompany our meal which included a Constantia Glen, “Two White Blend” (Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon), a blind tasting (which I would never have guessed) of a 2023 Lourensford Viognier, followed by the 2022 Kruger Family “San Chene” Pinot Noir from the Hemel and Aarde Valley near Hermanus, the Sjinn Cabernet Sauvignon from Malgas and the syrupy sweet Diemersfontein “Sweet Sue” from Wellington, a sweet wine made from sun dried Viognier grapes, pinched on the vine and left to dry to concentrate the sugars and acidity.
It truly is a fantastic show, every element offering a surprise of some sort with incredible attention to detail. The celebration of South African produce and wines is inspiring and delicious. I had some serious food envy looking at some other courses going on around me! Unfortunately I was too busy enjoying the phenomenal lunch and checking out all the activity at surrounding tables to take notes, but the South African food writer Tony Jackman, does a fantastic job of elaborating on the full menu here. If you can, add it to your Cape Town itinerary!
There are of course so many other estates and restaurants to enjoy as well, catering to all budgets. Below are just two estates that you can visit in the Valley :
This estate boasts a beautiful tasting room housed in their historic wine cellar, with options for both tastings and individual glasses of wine. Generous portions and friendly, knowledgeable staff make the experience truly enjoyable. Enjoy your tasting with a light snack overlooking either the manicured lawns or the picturesque vineyards, with indoor and outdoor seating available. Beyond the tasting room, Buitenverwachting offers two additional dining options, The Coffee Bloc for more casual meals and Beyond Restaurant, which focuses on showcasing local produce in a slightly more upscale setting.
This boutique wine estate on the upper slopes of Constantia boasts breathtaking views from its restaurant. While the farm’s early wine history dates back to the 1800’s, the majority of the vineyards were planted in 2000 and 2001 following a devastating wildfire that destroyed most of the vegetation in 2000. The first wines were produced in 2005, and they now produce several award-winning wines. The restaurant offers a diverse menu, including platters featuring local meats and cheeses, as well as flammkuchen and several wine tasting options.
Definitely an area worth exploring for anyone visiting South Africa!
Some links for anyone planning to visit the area :
- Constantia Wine Route
- Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route
- Constantia Wine Walk – love their very informative Instagram account.
