The Constantia Wine Valley. It is the oldest wine region in South Africa, located right on the doorstep of Cape Town yet most people still think of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek when looking for a day out in the Cape winelands. This is about to change with the wine region looking to highlight its ample activities, award-winning wines and stunning views.
We were invited to enjoy all of these, visiting a few vineyards in the area a few months ago. In the past, I’ve only been to Groot Constantia, Beau Constantia and Steenberg so it was a nice excuse to explore new places that I have been dying to visit..
1. Zip lining at Silvermist
The group met at Silvermist Wine Estate for a dose of adrenalin as we were ushered to experience one of the longest and highest zip line tour in Africa. While cruising down from hillside to hillside, you will get to experience the Constantia winelands from a unique viewpoint and on a clear day you will even be able to see both oceans. Afterwards, hunger kicked in and we were treated to stunning Sivermist wines along with a few tasty treats.
2. Wine Tasting at Klein Constantia
During our stay at Klein Constantia, we chatted to the wine-makers about the devastating fires that swept the region recently. It was sad to see the damage that had been caused. They explained how the entire wine community in the area pulled together to fight the fires in order to to save the wines and land. Unfortunately, all the grapes that had not been harvested yet had to be wasted as the smoke of the fire can be found to reside in the skins of the grapes. During our stay, we also tasted the stunning range of Klein Constantia wines with their Vin de Constance, one of the highest rated wines in South African history, being the definite highlight.
3. Lunch at Buitenverwachting
Next up, we were treated to a beautiful lunch at Buitenverwachting. We reviewed their restaurant in the past so I knew we were in for a treat. Seated on the terrace facing the Constantiaberg, the restaurant offers iconic views over the Buitenverwachting vineyards. Every dish was beautifully presented and tasted incredible. If you haven’t been to the restaurant before, you should definitely pay them a visit.
4. 4 x 4 Tour at Eagles Nest
After enjoying an incredible lunch, we were taken to Eagles Nest which is located high up the mountain in a 4×4. Being able to take in the beautiful views of the region, it made for a fitting finale of an amazing day exploring the Constantia wine region.
BONUS: Bistro 1682 at Steenberg
During the same week, we were also hosted by the team at Steenberg Wine Estate, part of the Constantia Wine Route, for an exclusive Magna Carta Event at the beautiful Bistro 1682. Unique dishes were especially created by Kerry Kilpin, the new executive chef at Bistro 1682, to showcase the incredible range of Steenberg wines.
While the focus was naturally on the wines, the food received many plaudits from those in attendance. Kerry will continue to tweak the current menu at Bistro 1682 and maybe some of these dishes will make it onto the seasonal offering as well.
With Kerry at the helm, there are very exciting times ahead for Bistro 1682 and I will certainly be back very soon to be amazed by the dishes of her stunning menu.
Visting the Constantia Wine Route
Living in Cape Town, we are so privileged to be able to experience such abundance of natural beauty. The Constantia Wine Region is just one of the many examples of this. The close proximity to the city centre and the range of activities to partake in, makes it one of the prime destinations in Cape Town – for locals and tourists alike. It offers something for everyone – the wine connoisseurs, adrenaline junkies, foodies and nature lovers.
So,…what are you waiting for? When will you be paying the Constantia Wine Valley a visit?
If you want to share your favourite activity on the Constatia Wine Route, we would love to hear about it. Please use the comment section below.
