Constantia Wine Tour Full Day includes Chapmans Peak and Fish Hoek
R1200.00 Per person.
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The Constantia Valley
The Constantia Valley Wine Region dates back to 1685 when its wines were exclusively bought and consumed by the aristocracy of the world, including members of British Royal House and Napoleon Bonaparte. Today Constantia wines are enjoyed by many who have the pleasure of tasting wine produced in a region of rich protected terroir , protected Mountain ranges and Floral Kingdom kept perfectly by cool sea breezes from the nearby coastal area of False Bay. The wines are perfected by highly skilled and award winning winemakers whom while making sure they keep up with the classical production methods and traditions of the past, surprise one with new and outstanding quality wines each year. Steenberg holds the distinction of being the oldest farm in the picturesque Constantia Valley, which is generally considered to be South Africa’s premier wine growing region. With its cool, sea-facing slopes and majestic granite ridges, this vineyard has developed a worldwide reputation for producing excellent Cape wines. The estate boasts a state of the art modern winery, producing some of the country’s finest award winning wines. The luxurious Steenberg Hotel is also situated on the Cape’s oldest farm, a mere twenty-minute drive from the bustling heart of Cape Town. Award-winning chef, Garth Almazan, will host you at the Catharina’s Restaurant in which guests are invited to relax, dine in style and enjoy sophisticated South African cuisine. The professional staff in the luxurious and spacious spa will offer guests the perfect treatment to suit their particular needs. A championship 18-hole golf course designed by Peter Matkovich, makes full use of the natural features and hazards of the estate surrounding the hotel. Invest in a beautiful home in Steenberg Estate at Steenberg Property. Eagles’ Nest is cradled in a secluded valley high up on the slopes of the historic Constantia mountain range, which forms part of the World Heritage Site, Table Mountain. The farm’s origins can be traced back to 1836 when it was used as a refreshment station between the area now known as Wynberg in the east, and the harbour of Hout Bay in the west. In order to make this journey, travellers had to cross the mountain pass, now known as Constantia Neck. In 1984, the 38ha farm was purchased by the Mylrea family. After devastating fires that raged through the Cape in the summer of 2000, the farm was mostly destroyed, except for the historic buildings. Being part of the world famous Constantia Valley, known for its award winning wines, we decided to plant the farm with varieties that best suited the unique terroir of Eagles’ Nest. This beautiful farm on the east-facing slopes of the magnificent Constantiaberg and barely 12km from False Bay, originally formed part of the Constantia Estate, which was founded by Simon van der Stel, the first Governor of the new Dutch colony at the tip of Africa. Buitenverwachting First sold as a 200 morgen sub-division to Cornelis Brink in 1773, Buitenverwachting changed hands all too often. And yet it flourished as a wine farm, due mainly to the 90 000 vines planted in 1825 by Ryk Arnoldus Cloete, brother of the famous Hendrik Cloete of Constantia. From 1866, the fortunes of Buitenverwachting were inextricably linked to those of the Louw and Lategan families. One of the most colourful characters was Oom Danie Lategan, whose trademark was the freshly picked camelia he wore on his lapel every day. It was his daughter, Olivia Lategan, who was to forge the link between the Lategans and the Louws. Born at Buitenverwachting, she returned as mistress of the farm when she married George Louw. Imbued with a sense of history, the Mueller family has retraced the roots of Buitenverwachting. The farm was lovingly restored to its former glory while extensive planting of the most selected of cultivars was initiated. The result was a maiden grape harvest of 100 tonnes - the first harvest the farm had seen in 30 years. An historic achievement that lived up to its name: Buitenverwachting - "Beyond Expectation". High Constantia In 1806 a section of this land, bordering on Groot Constantia to the north was granted to William Duckett - the British Agricultural adviser. In 1813 this land was bought by Jacob van Renen, son of Sebastiaan Valentijn van Renen (Snr).Sebastiaan Valentijn van Renen originally masterminded the wine-farming venture on High Constantia. Convinced that the soil would be of the same exceptional quality as Groot Constantia’s and that the climate of the hills would give the wine its particular flavours.Shortly before Sebastiaan Valentijn van Renen died, in May 1821, Jacob transferred the farm to his younger brother, Sebastiaan Valentijn Jnr. Who named the property ‘Sebastiaan’s High Constantia’. Soon establishing the reputation of his farm, and by 1827 its wine was commanding prices in England. By 1841 High Constantia and Groot Constantia were sole competitors in the area, Cloete relying on antiquity and tradition, Van Renen on his competitive prices.High Constantia, in its heyday, comprised three main buildings set amidst gardens, lawns and trees. Notable was a great oak, near the cellar, in which was constructed a platform where family and friends took their ease. The date, name, ship and destination of the numerous visitors who journeyed to High Constantia during this period were recorded in its three visitor’s books. At times, the amount and type of wine (Frontinac & Pontac) were also listed.On a small corner of the original land, David van Niekerk is restoring ‘High Constantia’ to its former winemaking glory. They are planting stocks and producing from their cellar – a structure that is reminiscent of High Constantia’s original home for wine – wines that, while they echo the gracious past of the former estate, give new life to the subtle flavours born of the mystic inter-relationship between earth and climate in the Constantia valley. Klein Constantia Established in 1685 and described as one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards, Klein Constantia Estate is set amidst ancient trees on the upper foothills of the Constantiaberg, with views across False Bay.The perfect location for cool climate wines, Klein Constantia produces one of the most celebrated bottlings on Earth, Vin de Constance. Constantia Uitsig, known until 1940 as Constantia View, was the home of the Lategan family for five generations. Their ancestors arrived in this country in 1735.Constantia Uitsig had been a portion of Simon van der Stel’s original grant of Groot Constantia. In 1894 Willem Lategan married Antoinette Bredell of Schoemanshoek, and with her inheritance he built the present homestead of Constantia Uitsig. In 1988 the farm was purchased by David and Marlene McCay. Together they have restored the farm to its former glory, and Constantia Uitsig now boasts award winning wines, three world-renowned restaurants, a private cricket oval, Spa and a 16-roomed luxury hotel. In 2006 fifty percent of the wine estate was bought by a consortium.Just 20 minutes from the heart of the city, Constantia Uitsig is truly Cape Town’s own Vineyard. The breathtaking rural beauty of a valley, where vineyard rows stretch up the mountainside, is unique in today’s overcrowded world. Groot Constantia Commander Simon van der Stel of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) arrived at the Cape supply station in 1679. Estranged from his wife he arrived in the company of his children and sister-in-law, Cornelia Six. Back in the Netherlands van der Stel had gained a solid background in viticulture at his vineyards in Muiderbergh. There he learnt the art of wine and brandy making which he was soon to implement here in the Cape. The estate is today owned by the Groot Constantia Trust which is committed to maintain and restore this national monument which is South Africa's oldest and best known wine estate.Constantia stands as a pinion of excellence for the wine industry and is an ideal example for the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of the country.It is a fully operational farm, one of South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions, where a wide range of quality estate wines are created and sold (seven days a week), and a variety of other attractions, including restaurants and museums make a visit an unforgettable experience. Constantia Glen Perched high on the upper reaches of the Constantiaberg in the oldest wine producing region of South Africa, lies the magnificent boutique wine estate, Constantia Glen. Acclaimed for bespoke wines and sweeping panoramic views, Constantia Glen is one of the gems of the Constantia Valley, the home of South African wine with a proud history of winemaking dating back to 1685.Cradled between the slopes of the Constantiaberg overlooking False Bay, Constantia Glen’s 60 hectares of undulating landscape have been under the present ownership since the 1960's. In recent times the farm has undergone numerous transformations from rolling forest hills to an Angus cattle stud, before finally accepting the historical inevitability of a return to vineyard production. The remarkable cool climate location, close proximity to the sea, altitude and diverse aspects are some of Constantia Glen’s richest assets. All these, coupled with complex soil patterns, shape the character and style of the fine and distinctive wines.A comprehensive soil survey conducted by viticultural experts Dawid Saayman, Eben Archer and Andrew Teubes, the latter staying on as viticultural consultant, revealed an almost perfect environment for the cultivation of high quality dryland vineyards. The clay-rich subsoil allows for excellent water holding capacity. Most of the vineyard blocks are planted on sites characterised by decomposed granite subsoils.A feature of these mica-rich soils is their ability to impart a wonderful minerality to the wine.Each vintage grown, vinified, and bottled at Constantia Glen shows a clear "fingerprint"of its unique terroir offering wines of balance, elegance and remarkable character. Beau Constantia is a boutique wine farm situated at the top of Constantia Nek overlooking False Bay. Vines are planted to an elevation of 350 metres above sea-level on some of the steepest agricultural slopes in the Cape. These lovingly nurtured vines are spoilt with panoramic views of the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountain ranges and over False Bay as far as Hangklip.After devastating fires destroyed the fynbos and pine forests on the property in 2000, the slopes were cleared and terraced, thereby exposing great potential for the planting of vineyards. Pierre and Cecily Du Preez purchased the 22 hectare property in 2002 and after extensive soil analysis the first vineyards were planted in 2003 with the help of dedicated farm manager, Japie Bronn. Development of vineyards on the steep slopes took a lot of patience and effort, but today the farms prides itself with 11.47 hectares under vine. The cultivated varieties include Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz and Petit Verdot. Platter’s South African Wines (South Africa’s top independent wine guide, 2012 edition), gives an average score of 4.3 stars out of five for all 58 of Constantia’s premium quality wines.Few wine regions in the world, certainly none in South Africa, come close in terms of such consistently high quality ratings. |
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Included: Chapmans Peak drive and tolls,Wine Tastings at selected farms.All transport full day to and from accommodation.
Excluded:Lunch,drinks/beverages etc.Medical Insurance Gratuties. Children 2 – 12 years are half price Children from 0 – 2 years are free. We cannot guarantee the availability and schedule of 3rd party operators. We reserve the right to utilize the services of an alternative service provider..Alans Airport Transfers and Tours reserves the right to terminate tour services if children are not behaving properly or causing disturbance. Entrance fees charged by third party service providers may be charged for children under 12 years. In order to qualify for children’s rates (when children’s rates are available), the child must be accompanied on the tour by 2 adults.and on certain tours at the discretion of Alans Airport Transfers and Tours and third party service providers. Passenger liability – R5 million. Prices valid until 31 October 2014. |