Constantia is one of the most upmarket suburbs of Cape Town, with large plots set in leafy grounds behind big walls. In the shadow of Table Mountain the area is green and cool with a good selection of hotels and guest houses. Groot Constantia, the Cape's oldest vineyard and fine Cape Dutch homestead, is located here and is well worth a visit.
When you go, take a look at the fine sculptured pediment over the cellar and see if you can spot the cherub who lost his manhood during recent renovations. In the late 1980s a bottle of 1791 Constantia wine was discovered in the Duke of Northumberland's cellar in the UK, and returned to South Africa for a ceremonial tasting.
Napoleon is said to have favoured the sweet wines of Constantia above all others and this 200 year-old deep amber liquid withstood the passing years amazingly well. The wine experts on the tasting panel rewarded its sweet fruity flavour with an incredible 18.7 points out of 20.
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