Constantia Glen

Constantia Glen: cool-climate Bordeaux blends below Constantia Nek

Constantia Glen sits just below the saddle of Constantia Nek, looking across the Constantia Valley with vineyards framed by the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain ranges. The boutique estate is less than twenty minutes from Cape Town’s centre and is a core stop on the Constantia Wine Route for visitors who want focused tastings of cool-climate whites and Bordeaux-style reds, plus lunch or early dinner with one of the valley’s best open views. Official site: constantiaglen.com. Address: Constantia Main Road, Constantia.

This is not a sprawling heritage museum farm. It is a compact, modern cellar-door experience built around estate-grown wines, wood-fired flammkuchen and platters, and carefully priced tasting flights—ideal when you want terroir and table service without racing a huge visitor circuit.

From Glen Alpine grazing land to Waibel vineyards

The Constantia Valley’s wine story begins with Simon van der Stel’s 1685 farm; after his death in 1712 the original grant was split into properties now known as Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Buitenverwachting. The upper slopes that became Constantia Glen were harder country. Official estate history notes the land was likely used for livestock grazing for roughly the first century of Constantia’s farming narrative, registered in 1813 to Johannes Gregorius van Helsdingen (who first planted vines), later renamed Glen Alpine under Sebastiaan Valentyn van Reenen, and visited in the mid-nineteenth century by callers including Prince Alfred.

The Waibel family from Austria bought Glen Alpine in 1960. Commercial wine farming returned after wildfire in January 2000 prompted soil tests; first vineyards were planted in September 2000 (majority in 2001). The farm was renamed Constantia Glen when the first wine was produced in 2005. Today the family remains the longest-standing custodian since 1813 registration—useful context for guests comparing “new” Constantia boutiques with seventeenth-century neighbours.

Terroir: 29 ha at 130–270 m

The property covers about 60 hectares, with only 29 hectares under vine and Constantia Glen production limited to roughly 120 000 bottles a year (official about page). Altitude runs 130–270 m. Predominantly north-east slopes catch late afternoon sun; cold Atlantic breezes off False Bay keep average temperatures mild (estate cites ~16°C). Soils: decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone over clay sub-soils supporting dryland cultivation. Hand harvesting is the rule on these undulating foothills. The result is the Constantia signature guests come for—crisp whites and fresh, structured reds rather than warm-inland ripeness.

Cellar master Justin van Wyk fronts the technical narrative on recent vintages; the Van Wyk Family Wines tasting on the food-and-wine menu is a separate flight from the estate flagship line.

Signature wines to expect in glass

Flagship estate wines (grapes grown on the farm) centre on Bordeaux logic with Constantia cool-climate finish:

• Sauvignon Blanc — classic unwooded Constantia white
• TWO — lightly wooded Sauvignon Blanc–Sémillon blend
• THREE — Merlot-led red with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon
• FIVE — five-variety flagship red (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec; percentages vary by vintage)
• Constantia Saddle white, rosé and red — approachable second line on the Full House flight

Van Wyk Family wines on the September 2026 menu include Olivia Grace, Rachel Rose, Rebecca May and an Elgin Syrah—useful if you want a parallel tasting beyond the numbered estate range.

Tastings verified (September 2026 Food and Wine Menu PDF)

Official visit page: five tasting options; fees start from about R165 (visit copy) while the live PDF lists Van Wyk from R145—confirm at booking. Purchase wine to the value of R1500 or more and one tasting fee is waived.

Book: +27 21 795 5639 / reservations@constantiaglen.com / Book Now online at constantiaglen.com. Highly recommended—the tasting room gets busy.

Dining, platters and house rules

Lunch or early dinner sits alongside tastings: flammkuchen from a wood-fired oven, gourmet mains, salads, soups, desserts, and cheese/charcuterie platters (Charcuterie R290 through Cheese & Charcuterie for two R660 on the Sep 2026 menu). Wine by the bottle or tasting at table. Kitchen closes 45 minutes before closing. Deposit R100 pp for tables of 6+; discretionary 15% gratuity for 6+. Outdoor walk-in area is first-come, first-served (weather-dependent; call ~09:30 on the day). Children under 12 are not allowed in the Glasshouse, Veranda and Cab Franc Pergola (bookings page). Private events (anniversaries, birthdays, end-of-year) are welcomed; the estate does not host weddings or wedding receptions.

Opening hours

• Sun–Thu: 10h30–18h00
• Fri–Sat: 10h30–21h00
• Open 363 days a year; closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
• Extended December hours—check Google/estate updates

Practical Constantia Nek tip

Park Constantia Glen early or mid-afternoon if you want the Full House flight plus a flammkuchen before Friday/Saturday dinner crowds. Combine with Beau Constantia or Eagles’ Nest neighbours only after checking those farms’ live visitor status—Glen itself publishes clear hours and menu pricing, which makes it one of the most bookable boutique stops on the route. Wine club: The Constantia Glen SIX for member pricing and allocations. Online shop offers free delivery within South Africa for orders over R2500 (homepage).

FAQ

Flagship vs Full House? Flagship is the four core estate wines (R195); Full House adds three Constantia Saddle wines (R240).

Cellar or vineyard tour? No standalone tour package was published on visit pages at research time—focus is tasting and dining.

Contact: enquiries@constantiaglen.com · +27 21 795 5639 · https://constantiaglen.com/