Groot Constantia-Trust

Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa

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Groot Constantia-Trust in Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest wine estate, founded in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the Dutch East India Company governor. It established the origins of the South African commercial wine industry, gaining fame for its high-quality wines known as Constantia Wyn, highly prized by European royalty and featured in classic literature.

The estate has faced challenges like fires and changing ownership, notably under the Cloete family from the late 1700s, who expanded vineyards and improved the manor house. After becoming government property in 1885 and undergoing restoration following a major fire in 1925, it became a heritage site and a museum managed by the Groot Constantia Trust since 1993.

Today, it is a living museum and operational farm, celebrated for its rich history, conservation efforts, and role as a cultural landmark in the Cape Town wine region.