South Africa - Western Cape - Contantia

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.