|
The
wines of
Klein
Constantia, Constantia, South Africa PO
Box 375 Constantia, 7848, South Africa
Klein Constantia Chardonnay 2001 Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2002
Klein Constantia Pinot Noir 2001 Klein Constantia Shiraz 2000 Klein Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Klein Constantia Marlbrook 1999 Back
to the Constantia wine route |
Some
history. Constantia, just on the edge of the Cape Town suburbs, was
South Africa's first wine region, and began making wine as early as
the 17th century. Then, in the early 18th century the Constantia
estate was split into three: Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia and
Buitenverwatching. Confusingly, the current Klein Constantia estate is
different from this original estate, which itself had its name changed
to Hoop-Op Constantia. Today's Klein Constantia was partitioned off
from the Groot Constantia Estate in 1823 and sold as a separate
entity. Yet while Groot Constantia carried on making wines that
enjoyed an international reputation Klein Constantia went downhill in
wine terms. Indeed, the vineyards were in a state of decline by the
time the present owners acquired the property in 1980. At this stage
just 30 out of 146 hectares were under vine; a replanting programme
has since increased this to 75 ha. 
When
I visited, in mid February, they were harvesting the Chardonnay.
Reception was very friendly and easy-going. It’s an idyllic location
that I doubt is bettered very often by Cape wineries. The success of
the Chardonnay meant it was sold out, but I managed to track a bottle
of the 2001 down in a local restaurant. The whites are very good here,
and the reds slightly mixed. 
Klein
Constantia Riesling 2000