In the history of winemaking, one name stands as an honourable testament to the enduring magnificence of the Constantia Valley—Groot Constantia. This esteemed estate prepares to celebrate its 340th birthday on 13 July 2025.
Traversing Through 340 Years of Splendour
Groot Constantia is the original wine business in Constantia, a place that’s deeply rooted in the vine and the art of winemaking. It’s a storied land divided and reunited through time, and a testament to the character of the people who have maintained these historic soils. Each milestone is a chapter in the evolving narrative of Constantia’s heritage.
To embark on this journey of 340 years is to experience
Groot Constantia’s Visitors Route
—a self-guided tour that gives access to the Manor House Museum and the Cloete Cellar, home of the Grand Constance, where the essence of the estate’s history is kept. Complimentary access to three audio walking tours guides visitors through the vineyards, manor house, and modern production cellar, each providing insight into the estate’s legacy. As guests explore, they’ll engage with an educational cellar tour that highlights the intricacies of the vinification process. Included is a wine tasting that offers the chance to sample five wines of your choice, each showcasing the terroir and mastery of the vintners.
Milestones Carved in Stone and Vine Groot Constantia was founded in 1685 and has a rich history. In 1712, an intricate division sculpted the landscape, creating Bergvliet and Hoop Op Constantia to stand alongside the original estate. Like the vines that flourish in the granite-rich soils, Groot Constantia endured, and in 1975, it reclaimed its historic expansiveness, merging sections of Hoop op Constantia and Nova Constantia farms, reuniting lands that had once been part of Simon van de Stel’s 1685 grant.