Famous wine estate in the South African wine-growing area of Constantia (see history there in detail). It was the core part of the original Constantia farm of Governor Simon van der Stel (1639-1712). After his death, the estate was divided into the three parts Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Bergvliet (today Buitenverwachting) and sold. In 1779, a part was acquired by the Cloete family, who had a new cellar built in 1791. It was during this period that the fame of sweet wine was established. Around 1860, mildew and phylloxera caused severe problems. Finally, in 1885, the property became the property of the government and was used as an experimental wine and agricultural estate. At the beginning of the 20th century, production came to an end. After a disastrous fire in 1925, the house was largely restored. In 1969, the mansion became part of the South African Cultural History Museum, which focuses particularly on rural slavery and the lives of slaves during the early Cape colonial period.
In 1993, a revival was undertaken by the new owner Groot Constantia Trust. The estate's various facilities make it a major attraction for tourists, with 450,000 visitors annually. Cape furniture from the 18th century, paintings and porcelain are exhibited in a museum. The attached wine museum tells the story of winegrowing in the Cape. The "Groot Constantia Tavern" and the "Jonkerhuis Restaurant" cater for the physical well-being. The vineyards cover 90 hectares. They are planted with the red wine varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz (Syrah), as well as the white wine varieties Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The top product is the red wine "Gouverneurs Blend". Port-style wines are also produced. Half a million bottles are produced annually.
In May 2021, a rare bottle of Groot Constantia from the 1821 vintage was sold at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction in Stellenbosch (South Africa) by Christie's for the equivalent of around € 18,400. The sweet wine was originally intended for the ex-emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), who lived in exile on the island of St. Helena, but returned to the estate due to his death in the same year. See also under most expensive wines in the world.
Image: By Tjeerd Wiersma Amsterdam/Netherlands - Flickr.com - image, CC BY 2.0, Link
