When you think that Table Mountain National Park borders two sides of the Constantia Valley, you quickly realise that the scenery will be stunning! But there is much more to Constantia. It was here that Captain Cook's botanist, Anders Sparman bumped into his first hippopotamus; to here that Nelson Mandela was moved from Robben Island; and here that one of Queen Victoria's favourite wines was made - she apparently requested a glass of 'sweet Constantia' every evening after dinner.
This is a rolling green district and was the cradle of the Cape wine industry as Simon van der Stel, an early Dutch Governor, settled here in 1684 building his estate and planting his vineyards at Groot Constantia. A full range of wines are made in Constantia from dry to sweet and the region has embraced most of the noble grape varieties.
Sauvignon Blanc, 2006 Klein Constantia, Constantia
The lively, limpid straw-yellow, green-tinged colour hint at the classic cooler-climate Klein Constantia style. Forthcoming aromas of fig and wild scrub lead to equally piquant and concentrated flavours of pineapple and ripe citrus fruit. Fresh acidity and firm minerality carry through to a long, savoury finish. This wine has 10% Semillon added to the Sauvignon.
Sauvignon Blanc vines are grown on the lower, south-facing slopes of Klein Constantia Estate. Atlantic and Indian ocean breezes ensure a relatively long and cool growing season, resulting in wines of distinctive varietal character. Unirrigated soils comprise decomposed Table Mountain granite.
Klein Constantia is owned by Duggie Jooste, whose family has been involved in the South African wine industry for four generations. Duggie bought the farm in a run-down condition in 1980 and immediately initiated a restoration and replanting programme. He and his son Lowell, who spent a year studying oenology and viticulture at the University of California, Davis, and worked a harvest at the Robert Mondavi winery in Napa Valley, handle the day to day running of the farm. Neither has an official title, as the family believes that labels belong on bottles.
Newly appointed Klein Constantia winemaker is 29-year-old Adam Mason, who brings an injection of youth and overseas experience to the Constantia estate. He is particularly well-suited to the position as his varied career has provided a balance between old world winemaking philosophy and new world technology.
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