Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia is a historic wine estate in Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa. Its origins are connected to Constantia, one of the earliest wine-farming areas established in the Cape, founded in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, governor of the Dutch Cape Colony. The original Constantia property combined vineyards with fruit cultivation, vegetable production and livestock farming. Van der Stel selected the sheltered valley for its decomposed granite soils, favorable climate and position near False Bay. After van der Stel's death, the original estate was divided into separate properties. The portion that became Klein Constantia passed through several owners and was at one stage known as Hoop op Constantia. Winemaking resumed there in the early eighteenth century, and the property eventually became associated with the Cloete family. Under the Cloetes, the vineyards were expanded and the estate's sweet wine gained international prestige. The historical Constantia dessert wine, made chiefly from Muscat de Frontignan grapes that were allowed to become highly concentrated, became one of the most celebrated wines of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It was exported to European markets and was associated in literary and historical accounts with figures including Napoleon Bonaparte. The upper portion of the property formally became known as Klein Constantia in the nineteenth century. In the early twentieth century, Abraham Lochner de Villiers and his wife, Clara Hussey de Villiers, acquired the estate and undertook an extensive restoration of the manor and grounds. Their period of ownership combined agricultural activity with an elaborate social life, and the property became known for its architecture, gardens and hospitality as well as its wine. The estate later remained within the de Villiers family for several decades. A major modern turning point came in 1980, when Duggie Jooste purchased Klein Constantia. Working with Stellenbosch University viticulture specialist Professor Chris Orffer and winemaker Ross Gower, the estate began reconstructing the historic sweet-wine style. The modern version used Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and was developed through vineyard, cellar and production work intended to recover the character associated with the old Constantia wines. Lowell Jooste subsequently joined the business. The first modern-era vintage was released in 1986 and received strong critical attention, establishing Vin de Constance as the estate's signature product and helping restore South Africa's reputation for internationally distinctive fine wine. The Jooste family sold Klein Constantia in 2011 to Czech businessman Zdeněk Bakala and British businessman Charles D. Harman. In 2012, Klein Constantia merged with Anwilka, a Stellenbosch vineyard, bringing Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats into the ownership structure. This connected the estate with established Bordeaux wine expertise while broadening the group's portfolio beyond Constantia. Today, Klein Constantia is primarily positioned as a premium and heritage wine estate. Its portfolio includes Vin de Constance, white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, premium Estate wines, the KC lifestyle range, special-release bottlings, a single-vineyard Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc and a Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wine. Through its relationship with Anwilka, the broader portfolio has also included red wines such as Anwilka and Petit Frère. The estate is also associated with a kramat, or Muslim shrine, marking the grave of Sheikh Abdurachman Matebe Shah, a figure connected with the early history of Islam at the Cape.

The history of Klein Constantia begins with the creation of the wider Constantia wine estate in 1685. Simon van der Stel, governor of the Cape, identified the sheltered Constantia Valley as suitable for viticulture after investigating soils across the colony. The original property included vineyards, fruit and vegetable cultivation and cattle farming. Its decomposed granite soils and maritime setting became central to the area's later reputation. Following van der Stel's death in 1712, the original estate was divided. The section that developed into Klein Constantia was acquired by Johannes Colijin, the son of a freed slave, and was also known for a period as Hoop op Constantia. Colijin resumed wine production in 1718 and began sending wine to overseas markets. In 1778, the property surrounding van der Stel's manor was acquired by the Cloete family. They expanded the vineyards, planting varieties including Frontignac, Pontac, red and white Muscadel and Steen, and improved the estate buildings. The Cloete period established the fame of Constantia's sweet wine. The wine was principally made from Muscat de Frontignan grapes that were allowed to dry on the vine, concentrating sugars and flavors. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Constantia became a coveted luxury wine in Europe. Historical accounts associate it with Napoleon's exile on Saint Helena, where substantial quantities were reportedly delivered, and with literary references by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Charles Baudelaire. After Hendrik Cloete died in 1818, the upper portion passed to his son Johan Gerhard Cloete and took the name Klein Constantia. In 1913, Abraham Lochner de Villiers and Clara Hussey de Villiers bought the estate. They restored the manor and developed the property as an imposing country residence, adding facilities and landscaping while continuing agricultural and wine activities. Their entertaining and lavish hospitality made Klein Constantia a prominent social venue in Cape society. Because the couple had no children, their nephew Jan de Villiers was designated as heir. He studied viticulture in California and later inherited the property after the deaths of Abraham and Clara, although the estate's highly social era eventually came to an end. Duggie Jooste acquired Klein Constantia in 1980 and initiated the estate's modern revival. With Professor Chris Orffer of Stellenbosch University and winemaker Ross Gower, he worked to recreate the historic Constantia sweet-wine tradition using Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Lowell Jooste later joined the operation. The estate completed a modern cellar and tasting room during the 1980s, and the first vintage of the new Vin de Constance was released in 1986. The wine's critical reception quickly made it one of South Africa's most prominent fine-wine exports. In May 2011, the Jooste family sold Klein Constantia to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman. The following year, the estate merged with Anwilka, a Stellenbosch vineyard previously associated with Lowell Jooste, Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats. The transaction added new shareholders and expanded the ownership group's wine interests. Klein Constantia has continued to produce Vin de Constance alongside dry white wines, premium estate bottlings, lifestyle wines and special releases. The property also has cultural and religious significance because it contains the kramat of Sheikh Abdurachman Matebe Shah, a Cape Muslim teacher and cleric traditionally associated with the early spread of Islam in southern Africa. The shrine forms part of the layered colonial, agricultural and Cape Muslim history connected with the Constantia landscape.

• 2012

  Merger with Anwilka

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  Klein Constantia merged with the Stellenbosch vineyard Anwilka and added Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats as shareholders.

• 2011

  Change of ownership

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Jooste family sold Klein Constantia to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman.

• 1986

  First modern Vin de Constance vintage released

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  Klein Constantia released the first modern-era vintage of its recreated Constantia dessert wine, receiving strong critical attention.

• 1980

  Jooste-era revival begins

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  Duggie Jooste acquired the estate and began a program to revive its historic sweet-wine identity.

• 1913

  De Villiers ownership begins

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  Abraham Lochner de Villiers and Clara Hussey de Villiers purchased Klein Constantia and restored the manor and estate grounds.

• 1818

  Upper portion becomes Klein Constantia

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  After Hendrik Cloete's death, the upper section passed to Johan Gerhard Cloete and became known as Klein Constantia.

• 1778

  Cloete family acquires the estate section

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  The Cloete family acquired the portion surrounding the historic manor, expanded its vineyards and helped establish Constantia sweet wine's international reputation.

• 1718

  Winemaking resumes at the future Klein Constantia property

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  Johannes Colijin resumed wine production on the portion of the divided Constantia estate that later became Klein Constantia.

• 1685

  Constantia wine estate established

  [1]Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org

  Simon van der Stel established the original Constantia estate in the Constantia Valley, creating the historical foundation from which Klein Constantia later emerged.

A premium heritage wine estate combining Cape winemaking history, luxury hospitality and internationally recognized sweet-wine production.

• Natural sweet wine · 1986

  Vin de Constance

  Klein Constantia's signature wine and the modern revival of the historic Constantia dessert-wine style. It is made primarily from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, with grapes traditionally allowed to ripen to high concentration. The wine is positioned as an icon bottling and is central to the estate's international identity.

• Premium wine

  Estate range

  The premium Estate range represents Klein Constantia's broader fine-wine offering beyond Vin de Constance. It forms part of the estate's structured portfolio of dry and sweet wines and communicates the property-based, heritage-oriented character of the brand.

• Lifestyle wine

  KC range

  The KC range is the estate's lifestyle-oriented wine line. It complements the more prestigious Estate bottlings with wines intended to extend the Klein Constantia name across a broader range of occasions and price positions.

• Single-vineyard white wine

  Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc

  A special-release, single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc associated with Klein Constantia's effort to express distinctive vineyard sites within the estate. It sits alongside the core portfolio as a more site-specific and limited-style offering.

• Sparkling wine

  Méthode Cap Classique

  Klein Constantia's traditional-method sparkling-wine offering, included among the estate's special-release and broader portfolio wines.

• White wine

  Sauvignon Blanc

  A dry white-wine category produced by the estate and part of its internationally oriented portfolio of wines from the Constantia site.

• White wine

  Riesling

  A white-wine offering identified with Klein Constantia's portfolio alongside Sauvignon Blanc and its iconic sweet wine.

• 2012

  Merge with AnwilkaM&A

  Background

  The new ownership structure sought to connect Klein Constantia with a broader premium-wine platform.

  Action taken

  Klein Constantia merged with Anwilka, a Stellenbosch vineyard, and welcomed Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats as shareholders.

  Aftermath

  The combination broadened the group's wine interests to include both Constantia sweet wine and Anwilka red wines.

  Source

• 2011

  Sell the estate to new investorsM&A

  Background

  The Jooste family ended its ownership after several decades of rebuilding the estate and its wine reputation.

  Action taken

  Klein Constantia was sold to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman.

  Aftermath

  The transaction introduced a new ownership phase while retaining the estate's premium heritage and Vin de Constance focus.

  Source

• 1980

  Rebuild the historic Constantia sweet-wine styleStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring Klein Constantia, Duggie Jooste sought to restore the estate's historic reputation for distinguished sweet wine.

  Action taken

  The estate worked with Professor Chris Orffer and winemaker Ross Gower to develop a modern interpretation based primarily on Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, while rebuilding cellar and tasting-room capacity.

  Aftermath

  The first modern vintage was released in 1986 and became the foundation of Klein Constantia's contemporary international identity.

  Source

1. 1Klein Constantiaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Klein Constantia Estatekleinconstantia.com