The historic Constantia valley was the cradle of winemaking in South Africa and has a wine history dating back to 1685. The valley was the site of Simon van der Stel’s 17th-century wine farm and the source of the legendary Constantia dessert wines, which were famous throughout Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are only a handful of cellars in the ward, and these continue the tradition of crafting excellent wines characterised by complexity and elegance.
The wines today, highly esteemed by wine connoisseurs, are made from classic European noble varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz).
The acclaimed Cape Point vineyards, some of them a mere 1.2 km from the sea, are situated on the western edges of the Cape Peninsula. This cool-climate district is recognised mainly for its Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
The vineyards of Durbanville, like those of Constantia, lie very close to Cape Town and border on the northern suburbs. Some dozen estates and wineries, situated mainly on the rolling hill slopes with their various aspects and altitudes, continue to make a wide variety of wine styles. Wines from this ward attracting attention are made predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc, which is the dominant variety in the valley, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon.
