Klein Constantia - Wine of Constance - 2019

South Africa

Klein Constantia

Wine of Constance 2019

65,00 €
A legendary wine from a legendary estate
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Travel through history with Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, a wine that has seduced the greatest monarchs and connoisseurs, from Frederick the Great of Prussia to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of France, including the American founding fathers George Washington and John Adams, to the exiled emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Wine of Constance, this "sweet, succulent and excellent dessert victory", still gives rise to many theories today on the origin of its name: was it in homage to the wife of Governor Van der Stel, to the ship Constantia which brought the daughter of the intendant Rijckloff Van Goen, or to the perseverance symbolized by the Latin term "Constantia"? Whatever the answer, Vin de Constance remains unique.

This exceptional wine is made from 100% Muscat de Frontignan, balanced by natural acidity. Unlike Bordeaux sweet wines, Constance Wine does not require the “noble rot” of the Botrytis cinerea fungus. The grapes are left to dry on the vines, exposed to the sun and the wind, thus concentrating their sugars. The blending of different batches at varying stages of maturity makes it possible to achieve the perfect balance between sugars, alcohol and acidity.

This wine offers extraordinary aging potential, as evidenced by the old bottles discovered in the cellars of major European collectors. Despite their age, between 150 and 210 years depending on the bottle, these wines retain a fresh acidity that delights lucky tasters.

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance is aged for 40 months, 50% of which is in 500L barrels and 50% in new French oak barrels, in order to deliver "South African gold". And to add a touch of authenticity, the iconic bottle of Vin de Constance has retained its original shape throughout the centuries, testifying to the richness of its heritage.

Prepare for an extraordinary experience with Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, a wine that embodies the very essence of perseverance and exceptional know-how.

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Grape varieties : 100% Muscat small grains

Alcohol : 14%

Guard : +10 years

The first vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really begin to take off until the arrival of French Protestants, in the 1680s, with their skills and their knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s.

Today South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the southern hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often have more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles.

South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards can also be found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, strongly influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.

The Coastal Region

The Coastal Region is the most important wine-growing region in the Western Cape and the epicenter of the South African wine industry. This region extends 105 kilometers from north to south and 50 kilometers from east to west. The Atlantic Ocean forms its western border and the Boland massifs to the east. The Hottentot Holland mountains to the south protect it from the influence of the ocean and it is also crossed by small mountainous “islets” (Paarl Rock, Paardeberg and Simonsberg). This region is influenced by both oceans and mountains and there are many microclimates. The climate is Mediterranean and the influence of the oceans is felt more markedly near the coasts but the interior of the region is warmer.


The sub-region: Constantia

Constantia is a historic wine region located in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Mountain shade and constant sea breezes help lower average temperatures on the slopes, allowing the grapes planted here to retain their freshness and acidity. The Constantia Estate was established in 1685 by the second governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Simon van der Stel. Upon his death in 1712, it was divided into three estates: Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia and Bergvliet. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the region was renowned for its legendary dessert wine, Vin de Constance. Today, Constantia is known for its premium cool climate wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux blends, as well as its world-class sweet wines based on Muscat Blanc.

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