Groot Constantia Wine Estate

Groot Constantia is the oldest wine estate in South Africa — established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first governor of the Cape Colony, and continuously producing wine for over 340 years. The estate's Cape Dutch homestead, with its ornate gable (decorated with a relief by Anton Anreith depicting a scene of fertility) and whitewashed walls, is one of the finest examples of Cape Dutch architecture and has been declared a national monument.

The estate's historical fame rests on its dessert wine — the Vin de Constance, a naturally sweet wine from Muscat de Frontignan grapes that was the most expensive and sought-after wine in 18th and 19th century Europe. Napoleon ordered it shipped to his exile on St Helena, Frederick the Great of Prussia was a devoted customer, and Jane Austen recommended it in 'Sense and Sensibility' as a cure for a broken heart. The wine fell out of production in the late 19th century (due to phylloxera and changing tastes) but was revived by Klein Constantia in 1986.

The estate today offers wine tastings (the Gouverneurs Reserve range is excellent), cellar tours, two restaurants (Jonkershuis serves Cape Malay-inspired cuisine in a historic building), and a museum in the original Cape Dutch manor house that documents the estate's history from the Dutch colonial period through British rule to the present. The oak-lined avenue approaching the estate, the mountain backdrop, and the manicured vineyards create a landscape that looks like a painting of colonial-era prosperity.