Wine times: An afternoon at Constantia Glen

South Africa is world-renowned for many reasons. The country is home to beautiful landscapes, rich history, stellar safaris and wildlife, warm hospitality and award-winning wines of course! Luckily, here in the Western Cape, we have a vast amount of wine farms and estates right in our backyard! Visiting these farms to experience the unique tastes and terroirs is truly a treat. In this blog, we cover a visit to Constantia Glen; a stunning wine farm located in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs.

Read on below to find out more about what it’s like to spend an afternoon at Constantia Glen.

What is Constanita Glen?

Constantia Glen is a boutique wine farm in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. Situated on the Constantiaberg mountain slopes, just below Constantia Nek, the wine farm offers beautiful views of the vineyards and surrounding area in a picturesque setting!

The wine farm has a history dating back to the early 1800s, having been operated by several different families for several different functions over the generations. The Waibel family became custodians of the Constantia Glen in 1960 and set about the challenging task of transforming into a high quality wine-producing farm. Constantia Glen as its known today began in the early 2000s with the first Constantia Glen wine being produced in 2005.

The wine farm produces bespoke, cool climate wines. There are four Constantia Glen flagship wines available to order online or at the farm in person: Constantia Glen Sauvognon Blanc, Constantia Glen TWO, Constantia Glen THREE and Constantia Glen FIVE. When you’re visiting the farm, you’ll find these are joined on the menu by Van Wyk family wines and Constantia Saddle wines. The farm describes their award-winning offerings as including “crisp white wines and fresh, vibrant reds of great elegance and structure.”

Where is Constantia Glen?

As mentioned above, Contantia Glen is located in the Southern Suburbs, along the Constantia wine route. The Constantia Wine Route is located a short 20-minute drive from Cape Town City Centre, making it an excellent option for a wine farm trip while in Cape Town! Sitting in the heart of the suburbs, Constantia is easily accessible from neighbourhoods around the Cape Peninsula including Hout Bay (an afternoon trip while staying at a dk villas Hout Bay property, anyone?), Muizenberg, Simon’s Town and more.

The Cape Winelands, which includes famous wine destinations such as Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, is 45 minutes to an hour outside of the city centre. While the Cape Winelands is an amazing day trip or longer sojourn, the Constantia Winelands are perfect for people looking for a wine experience close to the city.

What can I expect from a visit to Constantia Glen?

Visiting a wine farm like Constantia Glen is a super fun way to spend an afternoon. Visit, and you can look forward great wines, great views, great food and a great time! The tasting venue is split into inside and outside areas; with outside courtyards, a sun room, cosy private spaces and tables outside. The space is a great combination of elegance and modern comfort which creates the perfect atmosphere to sit back and enjoy yourself with family and friends. There are also beautiful lawns offering spaces to relax as well as great photo opportunities!

Enjoy several tasting options of offer which showcase the farm’s different products. You can sip your selection while enjoying the picturesque scenery! Not keen on a tasting? Order a bottle (or two) of your preferred wine and enjoy! Constantia Glen’s Cellar Door is the perfect place to buy a few of your favourite bottles during your visit.

Feeling hungry? Worry not, there is some incredible food on the menu! Tuck into the generous cheese and charcuterie boards or order one of Constantia Glen’s salads, soups or gourmet mains (including burgers, fish, beef fillet, goulash and more with lovely vegetarian optoins). Why not try a slice of flammkuchen? This thinly rolled flatbread originated in Alasace in France and the Palatinate region in Germany and is a must-try.

When is the best time to visit Constantia Glen?

One of the best things about Constantia Glen is that it is open year round and great to visit in any season. Warm summer days are perfect for lounging under the sun with a glass of white, spring and autumn offer milder weather and stunning views of the changing foliage while winter is perfect for cosying up inside next to a heater or under a blanket and sipping on a robust red.

Visit now to enjoy the sunshine and toast to the festive season with a glass of MCC!

Add Constantia Glen to your list of destinations to visit along the Constantia Wine Route. Be sure to keep an eye on our blog and social media channels for more recommendations on great things to do around Cape Town!