Klein Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa
A touch of Holland in South Africa. Just ten kilometers from the Atlantic coast, a centuries-old winery stands in a whitewashed building with gray roofs, reminiscent of the traditional Dutch Cape architecture. Throughout its long history, the estate has changed hands many times. In 1685, its 1,500 acres of prime vineyards became the property of the tenth Governor of the Cape. Despite its many transitions, the winery has consistently maintained its reputation as one of the region’s finest.
Part of Klein Constantia’s enduring charm lies in its commitment to preserving its historic character. Like many renowned wineries in the Cape, it features a boutique hotel that promises guests “a journey back to the estate’s earliest days,” carefully maintaining period furnishings, authentic décor, and the timeless atmosphere of centuries past.
The winery produces an impressive portfolio of wines but is best known for its iconic sweet wine. Crafting this style demands several selective harvests in the same vineyard, with constant monitoring of sugar levels in every bunch. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand, in successive passes, selecting only those that have reached exceptional ripeness.
This luminous golden dessert wine is crafted from Muscat de Frontignan grapes and contains 165 g/L of residual sugar with 14% alcohol, a combination that promises extraordinary aging potential.
Elegant and refined, it offers expressive aromas of ripe fruit, honey, white blossoms, green citrus, almonds, exotic spices, and lychee. It is almost always included among the “Les Plus Grands Vins du Monde”—the world’s greatest wines—and has frequently earned a place at the very top of that prestigious list.
www.kleinconstantia.com
Bottom Line:
Centuries of history, many owners, one enduring standard of excellence.
