The 6 most beautiful wine farms in Constantia, Cape Town

Constantia is the wine region within Cape Town itself. While Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl are cities in their own right, Constantia is a district within Cape Town. From Constantia, you reach the city centre of Cape Town within half an hour. The district is situated on the green southern side of the city, against the slopes of Table Mountain. This historic region is considered the oldest wine-growing area in South Africa and in the entire southern hemisphere. Wines have been produced here since the 17th century.

Besides wine, Constantia is also known for its green and peaceful surroundings. Hidden among the vineyards and mountain slopes are various nature reserves and hiking trails, ideal for those who want to combine wine tasting with nature and relaxation. Want to read more about the Constantia district? We wrote a nice Constantia blog featuring the 8 best things to do in Constantia. Read it now!

Cape Winelands (Kaapse Wynland)

The Cape Winelands (also known as the Cape Winelands) is one of South Africa’s most famous wine regions. This is the region that encompasses Cape Town, Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. In this blog, we focus on the most distinctive and beautiful wineries in Constantia. We have also written similar blogs about Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl. Read all about the 14 best wineries in Stellenbosch, the 9 nicest wineries in Franschhoek, and the four nicest wineries in Paarl here!

If you want to explore the Cape Winelands yourself, just like us, we recommend renting a car. Do you want to rent a car without the hassle? Then book a car via SunnyCars. We often book rental cars with SunnyCars because they provide full insurance coverage and you can contact them 24/7 with any questions!

Wine Tasting in Constantia

As far as we are concerned, there is no better way to discover Constantia than through tastings, picnics, and tours at the various wineries. It is the ultimate way to enjoy the excellent wines, the good food, and the beautiful surroundings in which this wine region is situated.

Compared to other wine regions in the Cape Winelands, such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, Constantia is considerably smaller in scale. While you can easily find fifty to sixty wine farms in Stellenbosch, Constantia has only ten wineries that you can visit. The wine farms here are also generally less grand in scale. There is often a restaurant present, but you are more likely to find sprawling estates with multiple restaurants, playgrounds, shops, and parks in Stellenbosch and the surrounding area.

Most wineries in Constantia are open to visitors and are located in beautiful locations, often in historic buildings overlooking the surrounding mountains and vineyards.

Which is more fun: Constantia vs Stellenbosch/Franschhoek?

We have been asked several times what we would recommend: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek or Constantia? Our answer is actually very simple: if you have the time, definitely stay a few days in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek to truly immerse yourself in South African wine culture. You will find more diversity in both wineries and wines there, and both cities are great to visit in their own right. These regions are also ideal for families, with various wineries that are set up to be extremely child-friendly.

If you are short on time or your interest lies less in wine, a day trip from Cape Town to the wineries of Constantia is a perfect way to still get acquainted with South African wine culture. Thanks to the short distance to the city, you can effortlessly combine a relaxed wine tasting with a day of sightseeing in Cape Town.

During a little over a week, we visited seven wine farms in Constantia. You can read about our experiences below; you can find the remaining four wineries further down in this blog.

Groot Constantia: Oldest wine farm in Constantia

Groot Constantia is the oldest winery in South Africa, and therefore also in the Southern Hemisphere. This is where the first vines were planted in 1685. After more than three centuries during which Groot Constantia had various owners, the estate has been expanded with beautiful buildings and a great many grapevines. Today, it is part of a non-profit company. Here, you can not only taste wine but also dine at one of the two restaurants (Simon’s Restaurant and Jonkershuis), learn more about the history of the winery in the museum, take a short hike, and look out at the many ducks in the ponds.

The wine farm is beautifully situated at the foot of Table Mountain, overlooking the entire Constantia Valley. Far in the distance, you can even see the sea. Rolling hills are covered with grapevines, and in many places you can walk around and enjoy nature. We did the Constantia Hiking trail to Constantia Bath. This walk was nice and quiet. There are other walking routes as well; some you can do using a free app that tells you about the history of Groot Constantia. We even saw people jogging on this wine farm.

We didn’t do a tasting at Groot Constantia, but we enjoyed lunch at Simon’s Restaurant and, a day later, a wine picnic at restaurant Jonkershuis. The lunch was very good, but we certainly cannot recommend the picnic. It was quite expensive, and the quality and variety were really mediocre. A bit disappointing, then.

Nevertheless, this is a winery worth visiting. The tasting room looked beautiful, and there were various tasting options. Just don’t go picnicking here. Click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia

• Tasting available: yes, there are two tasting options
• Restaurant available: yes, Simon’s Restaurant and Jonkershuis.
• Hotel available: no
• Prices: The prices of the tastings are quite high for South African standards. There are bottles of wine that are reasonably budget-friendly, but many expensive wines are also sold.
• Driving time to Constantia: 5 minutes

We visit Beau Constantia on a warm afternoon. We don’t have a reservation, and this winery is popular, but it is no problem at all. There is some shuffling around, and before we know it, we are sitting like royalty in the shade under a large parasol. Beau Constantia is situated on one of the highest points of Mount Constantia. From here, you can see incredibly far. Upon entering, we were already captivated by the view, and even now on the terrace, we look out over rolling vineyards into the Constantia Valley.

Beau Constantia is housed in a modern block-like building that also houses the Chefs Warehouse restaurant. There is a tasting terrace on the ground floor, but if you have the chance, go to the top floor. It is cosier there, and the view is even more beautiful!

The Family tasting at the wine farm Beau Constantia

We order a cheese platter and decide to do the Family Tasting. These are the four wines named after the family running this winery. We start with a rosé made from Cabernet Franc grapes, named after the family grandmother. Then we move on to the two sons: Lucca and Aidan, both powerful red wines. And we finish with the other grandmother of the family, Stella, with a Syrah. I am most impressed by Lucca, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Full-bodied, powerful, but not too heavy.

Beau Constantia is a boutique wine farm. This means that production is small and the focus is on quality over quantity. At some wineries, this means they are not really geared towards wine tourism, but that is not the case at Beau Constantia. You are well taken care of, the tastings are conducted very professionally, and this place is very popular. Definitely worth a visit! Click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia

• Tasting available: yes, two different tastings available
• Restaurant available: yes, Beau Constantia
• Hotel available: no
• Prices: average to high for South African standards
• Driving time to Constantia: 10 minutes

Tip: You usually do not need to make a reservation to visit a wine farm in Constantia, but if you also want to have lunch, dinner, or a picnic at a winery, a reservation is essential.

Buitenverwachting is, as the name suggests, a place that exceeds your expectations. It is located in the middle of the Constantia Valley, and to reach the estate, you drive through the vineyards for quite some time. Once you arrive, you see several beautiful old buildings and… peacocks. Yes, you read that right; peacocks roam freely here. The animals are not very shy and walk across the large lawn bordered by oak trees, where you can enjoy a lovely picnic.

This wine farm is very old. It was founded by Simon van der Stel, the founder of viticulture in South Africa. Since then, the estate has been managed by various families and companies. Since 1980, the winery has once again been a family business and is in the hands of the German Müller family. The winemaker at Buitenverwachting, Brad Paton, also adds a touch of Germany to the wines, as he studied viticulture in Germany. He focuses primarily on white wines and has elevated Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to a high level. This is also what Buitenverwachting is known for.

We didn’t do a tasting here because I was recovering from a stomach bug during our visit. However, we did get thoroughly informed and took wine home to taste for when I was fit again. Now, I’ll be honest: normally, Sauvignon Blanc isn’t really my thing. Too fruity. But at Buitenverwachting, I am actually a big fan of the Hussey’s Vlei Sauvignon Blanc. Delicious!

What else can you do at Buitenverwachting? Well, we had a lovely lunch at the Coffee BloC restaurant. Relaxed and good food. If you want to have an elaborate dinner in the evening, you can do so very well here at the fine dining restaurant Beyond. And on that lawn with the peacocks, you can have an extensive wine picnic (do bring your own picnic blanket). Finally, there is also a jeweller on the estate, Maack & Martin, where you can even have your own jewellery designed.

Buitenverwachting is certainly worth a visit. It is child-friendly thanks to the large lawn where you can enjoy a lovely picnic and the friendly service at Coffee Bloc. It resembles a large park. Highly recommended!

Click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia

• Tasting available: yes, for a fixed price you can choose five different wines
• Restaurant available: yes, Beyond restaurant (fine dining) and Coffee Bloc (breakfast & lunch)
• Hotel available: no
• Prices: budget to average
• Driving time to Constantia: 10 minutes

No beautiful views, restaurants, or coffee shops at this winery. No, High Constantia Wine Cellar is truly a boutique estate: small, intimate, and focused solely on the wines.

As we walk past large wine barrels and tanks into the tasting room, we can clearly see just how intimate it is here. On the balcony overlooking the garden, there are three tasting tables. The other two are occupied, so we are lucky that there is still a spot available.

High Constantia Wine Cellar is known for its MCC (Method Cap Classique), South Africa’s sparkling wine. To be honest, we found that a bit too sweet; not quite our thing. They also offer a tasting of five different wines, with the Cabernet Franc really standing out for us. It is full-bodied and complex, with red fruit. During the tasting, you can choose five wines yourself from a simple menu featuring a few white and several red wines. Constantia has one of the coolest wine climates in South Africa due to its coastal location and relatively high rainfall in the winter. This results in fresher wines, which we really enjoyed in this Cabernet Franc.

A visit to this winery is also refreshing. No hype, no large crowds, no frills, just the winemaker with his wines. Because the winery is so small, it might be wise to call ahead to reserve a spot. When we arrived, we were lucky, but people after us were unable to do a tasting because it was full. Click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia

• Tasting available: yes
• Restaurant available: no
• Hotel available: no
• Prices: The tasting is budget-proof,  though you pay quite a bit for a glass of MCC. The prices for the bottles of wine are average.
• Driving time to Constantia: 5 minutes

Alongside Beau Constantia, Constantia Glen arguably has the most beautiful view of all the wineries in Constantia. Here, you look out over the Constantia Valley on two sides, and everywhere you look, you see vines with rugged mountain peaks in the background.

We visited Constantia Glen on a cloudy day, and even though the mountain peaks were shrouded in clouds in some places, the view remained breathtaking. Even our three-year-old son shouted: “Wow, Mom, look how beautiful it is here!”

Perhaps this view made our tasting at Constantia Glen even better. We were actually slightly sceptical beforehand. The things we heard about Constantia Glen were quite mixed. People spoke of less-than-great service and high prices. And the latter is true; if you go here for lunch, you really pay top dollar.

At the wine tasting, we ordered a flammkuchen that was tasty but not cheap. Oh well, to be honest, that didn’t matter to us, because the wines and the view made up for it. I went for the Constantia Glen Flagship tasting and tasted the Sauvignon Blanc (white – not my thing), the Constantia Glen Two (white – very tasty!), the Constantia Glen Three (red – very tasty!), and the Constantia Glen Five (red – also tasty). So, I especially loved the second and the third. The Constantia Glen Two is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and that blend suits me well, because I find that variant to be the very best at other wineries in South Africa.

Conclusion: the wines and the view at Constantia Glen are really worth it! It seems even more special here at sunset! Click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia

• Tasting available: yes, there are four tasting options
• Restaurant available: yes, there is a restaurant catering lunches
• Hotel available: no
• Prices: The tastings range from reasonable to somewhat more expensive. And the same applies to the bottles of wine.
• Driving time to Constantia: 5 minutes

Silvermist Organic Wine Estate is completely different from the large wineries we often see in Constantia. It takes a bit of searching to find the entrance when we drive through the gate on a stormy Thursday afternoon. Silvermist Organic Wine Estate is located on the same grounds as the chic restaurant La Colombe, so we expect a luxury winery. But this is not that at all. The Silvermist Organic Wine tasting room is housed in the same space as restaurant Kodo, a somewhat shabby room full of African art with a menu that feels Japanese.

To be honest, we are a bit confused. Are we really in the right place? But when we are warmly welcomed and shown to a table by a warm fireplace, we relax and are mainly curious about what this winery has to offer us. And it does not disappoint!

We are doing the only tasting available, and the sommelier enthusiastically joins us at our table. He talks at length about the wines and doesn’t seem bothered at all by our two children, who this time aren’t little angels but are crawling around the floor like true dragons. Silvermist is a very small estate and the only organic vineyard in Constantia. They produce a few wines under their own label, with very small production runs (sometimes no more than 900 bottles). Additionally, they have collaborations with other wineries in Constantia with whom they release bottles of wine. So, they don’t see each other as competition, but as partners.

Wine tasting at Silvermist Organic Wine Estate

Unfortunately, we cannot finish the tasting in peace, because the moment the fourth wine is poured, it turns out our clean son isn’t so clean after all. I’ll spare you the details, but it’s gross… And so we cut the tasting short (although the sommelier insists I take another sip of the fourth wine), leave a generous tip, and take the best wine (again a blend of Sauvignon-Sémillon) home to taste it a bit better once everything is clean. Oh well, we can laugh about it; you cannot hit the jackpot every time when travelling with children ;-).

Back to the tasting for a moment: we started with an unlabeled wine, an experiment with no fewer than 8 different grape varieties from the Constantia Valley that together form a kind of spicy rosé. Light in colour, and very surprising. The sommelier tells us that the experiment is a success and that the wine will see a larger production starting next year, and will therefore also get its own label. Then we arrive at the second wine, which is a blend of Sauvignon and Sémillon, delicious! The third wine is a Sauvignon Blanc, not as tropical as usual, and therefore, in my opinion, much tastier. As for the fourth wine, well, we’ll never know… It was red and powerful… but I had to leave it… Oh well, we’ll come back here sometime. A surprising winery, and really worth the effort!

Click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia

• Tasting available: yes, a tasting is available
• Restaurant available: yes, Restaurant Kodo.
• Hotel available: yes, click here for Silvermist Hotel
• Prices: A tasting is reasonably priced, but the bottles of wine are a bit more expensive.
• Drive to Constantia: 5 minutes

Winery we would not recommend: Constantia Uitsig

We also visited Constantia Uitsig. We didn’t necessarily recommend this winery. It felt a bit too commercial, with paid parking and lacking the beautiful views we had at most other wine estates. The reviews of the wines weren’t great, and the lawn where the wine picnic we had booked later in the week was held overlooked the parking lot, not exactly cosy. Therefore, we decided to cancel it and discover other wineries instead.

Wineries we did not visit:

• Eagles Nest (currently closed for visits and tastings), click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia.
• Klein Constantia, click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia.
• Constantia Royale – Nova Zonnestraal, click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia.
• Steenberg Vineyards, click here for the location of this wine farm in Constantia.