My Experience of the First-Ever Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route
It's the first varietal based wine route and I was one of the first to experience the brand new Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route. Available at six estates across the Constantia Wine Route:
- Steenberg
- Buitenverwachting
- Klein Constantia
- Groot Constantia
- Constantia Glen
- Beau Constantia
Silvermist & Constantia Royale are available by appointment only and Eagles Nest will have their first Wine of Origin Constantia Sauvignon Blanc with the release of the 2021 harvest.
The tastings will showcase both a current vintage and an older vintage to illustrate the age-ability of the Sauvignon Blanc variety in Constantia. Constantia Glen went as far back as 2010!
My Experience of the Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route
So, is it possible to do all the estates over a weekend? The answer is YES! I spent two days experiencing all the wonderful Sauvignon Blanc's Constantia has on offer. We booked accommodation and had transport to make the experience that much more enjoyable. Luckily for you though, the Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route does not have a time limit so whether it takes you two days or even a year, you can experience it all.
Here's my experience...
Stop 1: Constantia Royale
Stop one for the day was an hour with Constantia Royale. Constantia Royale is available by appointment only and also due to their wine tasting room not yet open, Wade Bales graciously opened his wine warehouse for this very special tasting. We therefore also had a sneak peek of the new Constantia White blend (Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon). As Constantia Royale only produces Sauvignon Blanc we tasted two very special wines which even had oak maturation.
Stop 2: Steenberg
A short drive from the Wade Bales Warehouse is Steenberg where we had a tasting of their Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2017 and 2019 vintages. Thereafter we had a marvellous lunch! Booking is definitely recommended as this winery is very popular due to the magnificent seating areas and wonderful views of their water features.
Stop 3: Klein Constantia
The next stop was Klein Constantia where we had a proper wine safari up to the top of the mountainous vineyards where we experienced natural air conditioning brrrr. Afterwards we enjoyed two Sauvignon Blanc vintages with food pairing. Both experiences are available through booking.
Stop 4: Groot Constantia
The second to last stop of the day was Groot Constantia. Steeped in heritage, Groot Constantia is one of the most sought after estates to visit. The tasting room recently got a make over and even features a special "instagram wall" that you can snap as seen below. We tasted three vintages, a 2013, 2018 and 2020.
Checking-in at 2 on Lismore
After a day filled with Sauvignon Blanc, we checked into our accommodation at 16h30 with an hour to spare to get ready for more Sauvignon Blanc with dinner. I checked into 2 on Lismore which is a stone's throw away from Steenberg. The hosts were absolutely fantastic - I somehow broke my shoe and the guest house had super glue so I could fix it - how amazing is that? The rooms were spacious, clean and luxurious. I stayed in The Orchid room which had yellow decor, my favourite colour. This guest house certainly has a very homely feel with communal areas perfect for a big family or friend getaway.
Stop 5: Buitenverwachting
As the sun started to set, we were on the road again to have our final Sauvignon Blanc tasting at Buitenwerwachting with dinner at Beyond. As it was too dark to snap pics, these pics below were provided by the winery and restaurant.
Stop 6: Silvermist
After a marvellous dinner at Beyond and a restful sleep at 2 on Lismore, our first stop for day two of the Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route was Silvermist. We met up with Winemaker, Greg at "Die Kraal" which is a function venue boasting the most incredible views. We lit the campfire and sipped on Sauvignon Blanc for breakfast paired with delicious and freshly baked croissants. Wine tasting at Silvermist is by appointment only. You can enquire about hiring "Die Kraal" as well. I would recommend that you get a group together of at least 4 people and be prepared to buy wine because these bottles are limited and delicious - how can you say no?!
Stop 7: Beau Constantia
After a rather scary and bumpy 4x4 drive up another mountain (I know, I'm a bit of a scary cat), we arrived at the peak of the Beau Constantia Vineyards with winemaker Meagan. We were treated to two vintages of Sauvignon blanc, a 2019 and 2020 paired with divine cheese platters and then tried our hand at golf! You can totally book an experience like this by getting a group together and booking in advance. Alternatively, the wine is up for tasting in the spectacular tasting room.
Stop 8: Constantia Glen
Arriving at Constantia Glen was easy because we met Gus Allen, owner, on the border of the Beau Constantia vineyards - so we arrived on foot haha. Gus introduced us to the Constantia Glen story whilst we walked through the beautiful vineyards. Thereafter we enjoyed three vintages of Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc dating as far back as 2010 and then finished off the day with the most divine lunch!
By 2pm we were done and I was ready to sleep for days!
How can you experience the Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Route:
Simply visit one of the Constantia Wine Route farms as listed above and tell them you want to try the Sauvignon Blanc route. .They will give you a loyalty card and you will pay at each farm, ensure you tick off your card at every farm. After visiting and tasting at 3 farms, hand in the card and the winery will arrange that an email will be sent to you with a 5% discount code to get money off a mixed case of Sauvignon Blanc from the Constantia online wine store. After visiting all 6 estates, do the same and you will receive a 10% discount, with no time limit to completing the Sauvignon Blanc Route.
Winemaker at Klein Constantia, Matthew Day, comments: “In the pursuit of elegance we strive to create a Sauvignon Blanc that is unique and represents our region. By doing this we create a serious style that respects the fact that Sauvignon Blanc is a noble cultivar.”
The spectrum of tasting experiences and settings on offer highlight the rich diversity of the valley, from decades-old properties steeped in history, to modern estates also producing world-class wine. The route gives visitors not only the opportunity to taste an array of expressions of Sauvignon Blanc but also to hear from a variety of voices and personalities that make up the Constantia Valley.
This initiative follows closely The Constantia Wine Route launching its brand-new online wine shop, showcasing all the available wines from the nine Constantia member wine estates on one platform.
#SeriousAboutSauvignon
*Photos captured by @jaredincpt
Competition!
You could win, click through to my Instagram post below.