Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia is a South African wine farm described by its own materials as South Africa's first wine farm, established in 1685 when Simon van der Stel, appointed by the Dutch East India Company to govern the Cape of Good Hope in 1679, chose 891 Morgen (about 763 ha) behind Table Mountain for its wine-growing potential. The estate's wines drew attention from influential people across the globe, with figures such as Frederick the Great of Prussia and Louis Philippe buying 'Constantia Wyn' at auctions across Europe, and the wine appears in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Charles Dickens's The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The farm continues to produce legendary wine since 1685, is described as South Africa's oldest wine-producing farm, an important part of World Wine Heritage, and a world-class international tourism destination offering quality estate wines, restaurants and museums.

The Dutch East India Company appointed Simon van der Stel in 1679 to govern the Cape of Good Hope. After years of loyal service he requested land from the Company and periodically sent out riders to collect soil samples. In 1685 he chose 891 Morgen (about 763 ha) situated behind Table Mountain for its wine-growing potential and scenery. Over the years the wines produced on the estate caught the attention of influential people across the globe due to their quality. Groot Constantia's history shows how one man's love of wine established South Africa's first wine farm more than 330 years ago and how those 891 morgens of land formed the origins of the commercial South African wine industry, with Emperors and Kings such as Frederick the Great of Prussia and Louis Philippe buying 'Constantia Wyn' at auctions across Europe. The wine appears in Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility and in Charles Dickens's story The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The Estate has been divided a few times due to many owners, and was transferred to a Not for Profit Company.

South Africa's oldest wine-producing farm and a world-class international tourism destination

• Estate wines

  A wide range of quality estate wines are created and sold on the farm.

• Grand Constance

  Listed among the site's offerings.

1. 1Groot Constantia Wine Farmgrootconstantia.co.za
2. 2Groot Constantia’s rich historygrootconstantia.co.za
3. 3about us - Groot Constantiagrootconstantia.co.za