5 Best Sights in Constantia, Cape Town

A relatively new establishment, the Norval Foundation is a center for art and cultural expression, holding numerous prolific art exhibitions and events. Along with the gallery and museum are an incredible sculpture garden, a children's playground, a research library, and the Skotnes Restaurant, which is worth visiting for creative South African fine dining. The views of the mountain are spectacular and there is a large paid car park. 

Once part of Dutch governor Simon van der Stel's original Constantia farm, Buitenverwachting (meaning "beyond expectation" and roughly pronounced "Bait-in-fur-VAGH-ting") boasts one of the most gorgeous bucolic settings imaginable. An oak-lined avenue leads past fields of horses and over a small stream until passing the Cape Dutch homestead and eventually arriving at the small modern cellar. Acres of vines spread up hillsides flanked by more towering oaks and the rocky crags of Constantiaberg Mountain. Buitenverwachting's wine is just as good as the view. The biggest seller is the flagship red, "Christine," a Bordeaux-style blend of mostly Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The winery's eponymous restaurant is also excellent and enjoys fabulous views of the vineyards.

Yet another award-winning wine estate, this one enjoys sweeping open views of the Constantia winelands just below the Constantia Nek roundabout. A huge "tasting room" spread across four different areas including a beautiful covered veranda, glassed-in conservatory space, and cozy lounge space offers wine tastings with a small menu of delicious light fare, cheese platters, and the like. A wine-and-chocolate pairing is also available.

The town of Constantia takes its name from the wine estate established here in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, one of the first Dutch colonial governors of the Cape. This site was one of the largest owners of enslaved people who must be acknowledged as the actual builders and growers of this establishment—and often get overlooked because of the terrible history of this property. After van der Stel's death in 1712, the land was subdivided, with the heart of the estate preserved at Groot Constantia. The enormous complex, which enjoys the status of a national monument, is by far the most commercial and touristy of the wineries (the tasting room includes a shop, small gallery, free Wi-Fi, and branch of Constantia Valley Tourism). Van der Stel's magnificent homestead, the oldest in the Cape, lies at the center of Groot Constantia. It's built in traditional Cape Dutch style, with thick, whitewashed walls, a thatch roof, small-paned windows, and ornate gables. The house is a museum furnished with exquisite period pieces. The old "Cloete" wine cellar sits behind the manor house and serves as an additional tasting room. Built in 1791, it is most famous for its own ornate gable, which contains a sculpture designed by Anton Anreith. The sculpture, depicting fertility, is regarded as one of the most important in the country.

In the 19th century the sweet wines of Groot Constantia were highly regarded in Europe, but today Groot Constantia is known for its award-winning Chardonnay (voted best in the world in 2013) and splendid red wines. The best of the latter is the excellent Bordeaux-style Gouverneurs Reserve, made mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with smaller amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Pinotage is consistently good, too, reaching its velvety prime in about five years. The estate operates two restaurants: the homey Jonkershuis and Simon's, which serve both sophisticated meals as well as deli-style offerings and picnics, which you can enjoy on the surrounding lawns.

Klein (rhymes with "stain") means "small" in Afrikaans and indicates the relative size of this portion of Simon van der Stel's charming original 17th-century Constantia estate. The winery, which is approached via a gorgeous pass along an tree-lined avenue and over a stream, has an impressive modern cellar, and the estate produces wines of superb quality, as awards displayed in the tasting area attest. The excellent Sauvignon Blanc is used as a point of reference by many South African connoisseurs and vintners. The closest you'll come to the famous Constantia wine of the 18th century is the Vin de Constance, a sweet wine made from predominantly Muscat de Frontignan grapes. The wine was a favorite of Napoleon’s, and he had 30 bottles a month sent to him when he was imprisoned on St Helena. The estate red is one of the best produced in the Cape—a collector's wine that will develop wonderfully over time. A 32-seater bistro is set to open in 2018.