A day spent at Constantia Glen wine farm, located amongst the dreamy Constantia hills, is always a good day. So, meeting the winemaker, witnessing the winemaking process and getting my hands dirty in the kitchen was extra special, writes Cape {town} Etc’s James Redman.
The venue is beautiful and everything that comes out of it, from award-winning wines to iconic flammkuchen is a testament to the passionate owners and dedicated staff. A taste of work done behind the scenes only added to my appreciation of this special farm. Everything at Constantia Glen is done with love. You can taste it!
Though very South African, Constantia Glen’s wines do boast a French Flair. This is because the farm’s terroir is strikingly similar to that of the world-famous wine-producing region of Bordeaux, located on the southwest border of France. ‘Terroir’ is a French term used to describe the environmental conditions, especially the soil and climate in which grapes are grown, and this is what gives a wine its unique flavour and aroma.
It comes with no surprise that Constantia Glen’s mission is to produce the very best red and white Bordeaux blends that the Constantia environment can offer, and they do just that!
Winemaker Justin Van Wyk and assistant Megan van der Merwe strive to nurture and deliver classically expressed Bordeaux varieties, with the whites being Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc, and red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Clare O’Donoghue writes in ‘Constantia Glen; A Timeless Vision’, that Justin’s winemaking style is “profoundly location-based.” Justin says that he and his team are true to the grapes, without interfering with them too much and work alongside the terroir to produce something that is balanced, and a true reflection of where the grapes come from.
Justin says that the Constantia Glen farm is very conducive to the red Bordeaux varieties due to the cool temperatures paired with good sunlight exposure that allows for slow, gentle and long ripening so that the flavours and tannins are fully developed. Justin adds that in the Bordeaux region, grapes generally hang for 100 days in a poor vintage and 115 days in an excellent vintage. At Constantia Glen, the red grapes experience between 110 to 120 days hang-time, resulting in red wines that are typically very elegant with concentrated ripe-fruit flavours and well-rounded, fine-grain tannins.
The experience of drinking wine at Constantia Glen, with all its international awards and 5-star ratings, is made even more memorable by the farm’s tasting room. The intimate setting and sublime views of the surrounding vines and mountains can be enjoyed on a hot or cold day as you sip on world-class wines and savour the stunning food on offer.
With delicious platters, salads, soups, mouth-watering gourmet mains and decadent desserts, the tasting room has a well-curated menu to go along with your wine tasting experience. The chefs are passionate about using quality ingredients sourced strictly from local and artisanal suppliers in an effort to work sustainably.
I was fortunate enough to participate in the making and cooking of Constantia Glen’s famous flammkuchen. The word means flame cake and finds its origins in the region of Alsace during the second world war. Relying on cast-iron stoves to cook, Alsacians used a flat piece of yeast-free, unbleached dough to test the stove’s temperature. This temperature test evolved into a traditional dish. The crispy dough base would be spread with crème fraîche, and topped with sliced onion and cured ham. Simply delicious!
Constantia Glen has introduced a South African element to the traditional flammkuchen, making this dish all the more exciting and satisfying, introducing ingredients like slow-roasted lamb, boerewors, truffle mushrooms, and so much more. See the full menu here.
There are many reasons to visit Constantia Glen: the wine; the food; the views; the friendly staff and the history of the farm. If you’d like to learn more about the turbulent and inspiring history of the Waibel family and how Constantia Glen has evolved into the local treasure that it is today, visit the tasting room and purchase the beautifully written book ‘Constantia Glen; A Timeless Vision’, by Clare O’Donoghue for only R395.
- For bookings: 021 795 5639
- Website: www.constantiaglen.com
- Location: Constantia Main Rd, Constantia, Cape Town, 7806
Also read:
Babylonstoren’s new visceral and interactive journey: The Story of Wine
Picture: @Constantia Glen / Instagram
