Groot Constantia

Since I have acquired such a distinguished palette as a result of my participation in numerous Tour de Franzias throughout my college career, I decided to visit one of the most elegant estates in all of South Africa for an afternoon of wine tasting. Groot Constantia was founded in Cape Town in 1685 by Commander Simon van der Stel of the Dutch East India Trading Company. This is the oldest wine estate in all of South Africa and even possibly the entire southern hemisphere. 

Both Charles Dickens and Jane Austen praise Constantia wine in their literary works. Additionally, it was Constantia wine that Napoleon requested on his death bed (this was even more exciting once I had the chance to google who Napoleon was!).

In addition to the wine tasting, we were able to take a tour of the wine cellar and wander around the estate which is nearly the same as it was over 325 years ago. We ended the day with dessert and wine while overlooking the vineyards.