Klein Constantia
Encyclopedia
Klein Constantia is a wine estate in the suburb of Constantia
in Cape Town
, South Africa
.
was established in 1684 by the VOC
Governor of the Cape Simon van der Stel
, and was used to produce wine
as well as other fruit and vegetables and cattle farming. Following van der Stel's death in 1712 the estate was broken up and sold in three parts (Groot Constantia
; Klein Constantia; and Bergvliet
).
, and his American wife Clara Hussey. The house and its estate were restored.
to southern Africa in the seventeenth century. After being captured during the Dutch conquest of Sumatra
, Sheik Abdurachman was banished to the Cape Colony in 1661, only ten years after it was founded. He is thought to have died on the site that the kramat now stands in either 1681 or 1682.
and Riesling
. In 1986 the estate began production of a Constantia dessert wine for the first time since the 1880s: Vin de Constance. June 2007 saw the release (last bottled in 2001) of their flagship red blend, Marlbrook comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet franc, of vintage 2005, which quickly snapped an award, and the second vintage of their flagship white blend Mme Marlbrook, which is made from Semillon, Sauvignon blanc and a dash of Muscat de Frontignan.
Constantia
- People :* Flavia Julia Constantia, daughter of Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus and Flavia Maximiana Theodora* Flavia Maxima Constantia, daughter of Constantius II and his third wife Faustina...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Foundation
Groot ConstantiaGroot Constantia
Groot Constantia is the oldest wine estate in South Africa and national monument in the suburb of Constantia in Cape Town, South Africa."Groot" in Dutch and Afrikaans translates as "great" in English.-History:...
was established in 1684 by the VOC
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
Governor of the Cape Simon van der Stel
Simon van der Stel
Simon van der Stel was the last Commander and first Governor of the Cape Colony, the Dutch settlement at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.-Background:...
, and was used to produce wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
as well as other fruit and vegetables and cattle farming. Following van der Stel's death in 1712 the estate was broken up and sold in three parts (Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia is the oldest wine estate in South Africa and national monument in the suburb of Constantia in Cape Town, South Africa."Groot" in Dutch and Afrikaans translates as "great" in English.-History:...
; Klein Constantia; and Bergvliet
Bergvliet
Bergvliet is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. Bergvliet, which means " Mountain Streamlet " in Afrikaans, is bordered by Retreat, Meadowridge, Kreupelbosch, Tokai, and Heathfield....
).
The Cloete family
In 1778 the portion of the estate surrounding van der Stel's mansion was sold to the Cloete family, who planted extensive vineyards and extended and improved the mansion. On the death of Hendrik Cloete in 1818, the estate was split, and the upper portion became the property of Cloete's son Johan Gerhard Cloete under the name Klein Constantia. The Cloete family left Constantia in 1880s and the vineyards for a life of sheep and cattle farming in Glen Almond, and New England areas.The De Villiers family
In 1913 Klein Constantia was purchased by Abraham Lochner de Villiers, a wealthy draper from PaarlPaarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, and his American wife Clara Hussey. The house and its estate were restored.
Cape Muslim heritage
Klein Constantia is the site of the kramat or grave of a revered Cape Muslim teacher and cleric, Sheik Abdurachman Matebe Shah, who is said to have been one of the three teachers who brought IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to southern Africa in the seventeenth century. After being captured during the Dutch conquest of Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, Sheik Abdurachman was banished to the Cape Colony in 1661, only ten years after it was founded. He is thought to have died on the site that the kramat now stands in either 1681 or 1682.
Wine production
Klein Constantia is noted particularly for its production of high-quality white wines, including Sauvignon BlancSauvignon blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French word sauvage and blanc due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France., a possible descendant of savagnin...
and Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
. In 1986 the estate began production of a Constantia dessert wine for the first time since the 1880s: Vin de Constance. June 2007 saw the release (last bottled in 2001) of their flagship red blend, Marlbrook comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet franc, of vintage 2005, which quickly snapped an award, and the second vintage of their flagship white blend Mme Marlbrook, which is made from Semillon, Sauvignon blanc and a dash of Muscat de Frontignan.