Touring the wine routes with Cape Town car hire

Touring the wine routes of the Cape is a delightful pursuit, especially with the freedom of Cape Town car hire. The Constantia Wine Route is 20 minutes from Cape Town city centre and a wonderful day out for any visitor. Wine estates often have a variety of entertainment for guests, such as picnics in the gardens, music concerts and restaurants. The Constantia Wine Route has all of these and more.

Meander the Constantia Wine Route using Cape Town car hire

The longest established wine-growing region in the Cape Town area is the land farmed by the Constantia wine estates today. Vineyards have been growing in the Constantia Valley since the 1680s. Each estate has stories to tell of its intriguing legacies and history. There are only a few wineries on the route and it’s worthwhile visiting each one. Choose Cape Town car hire over expensive tour buses and wander the route at your leisure.

Constantia wine estates

Buitenverwachting

Buitenverwachting is one of the original Constantia wine farms and produces a range of superb wines. The name “Buitenverwachting” means “beyond expectations”, and expresses the essence of the estate perfectly. The restaurant is also highly regarded.

Estate attractions:

• Buitenverwachting Restaurant (one of the Cape’s renowned restaurants)
• Picnic in the gardens (booked in advance and ordered from the restaurant)

Constantia Uitsig

Constantia Uitsig is a beautiful estate. The cellar produces well-respected wines, and a hotel, spa, and three restaurants make this vineyard a wonderful place to visit for a meal, a treatment, or a special overnight stay.

Estate attractions:

• Constantia Uitsig Hotel (16 garden rooms)
• Constantia Uitsig Spa (treatments and therapies)
• La Colombe Restaurant (excellent restaurant overseen by chef Luke Dale-Roberts)
• Constantia Uitsig Restaurant
• The River Café
• The Wine Shop (at the entrance of the estate)

Groot Constantia

One of the very first vineyards back in 1685, Groot Constantia is now a celebrated and favoured cellar that produces premium wines. The captivating estate is open for cellar tours which take place daily, every hour from 10am to 4pm.

Estate attractions:

• Simon’s Restaurant (Friday nights are band nights and a jazz band plays on Sunday afternoons from 4:30pm)
• Jonkershuis Restaurant (has views of False Bay, overseen by chef Laurence Burgess)
• Vineyard picnics (arranged with Groot Constantia at least 24 hours in advance, picnics are made up on-site)

Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia’s “Vin de Constance” is a recreation of the legendary “Constantia”, immortalized in the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Along with this celebrated wine, the cellar produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Marlbrook. The estate is a beautiful one to visit with its Cape Dutch homestead and views of False Bay.

Steenberg Wines

The Steenberg estate has a top-of-the-range cellar which hosts two tours daily. Both red and white wines are produced, and Steenberg is one of the only Cape vineyards currently cultivating “Nebbiolo”.

The estate is home to a national monument in the form of the original farmhouse as well as some outbuildings, which have now become part of the 24-suite hotel. The farmhouse gable is the last remaining example of its kind in the Cape Peninsula.

Estate attractions:

• Catharina’s Restaurant, which offers fine food and wonderful views of False Bay, the Steenberg mountains and the vineyards.
• An added bonus is the eco-conscious, championship 18 hole golf course.

Eagles Nest

Eagles Nest produces two red wines; a shiraz and a merlot. The estate is known for being the steepest commercially farmed land in the Cape. Vineyards are grown from 150m-400m above sea level. Visits are by appointment only.

Touring the picturesque Constantia Wine Route is an enchanting must-do. Try Cape Town car hire for the liberty to manage your own holiday events.