Constantia Royale (Nova Zonnestraal)

Constantia Royale at Nova Zonnestraal: Tunnel Tasting in Constantia Valley

Constantia Royale is the limited-production wine label of Nova Zonnestraal, a 17-hectare family farm at 6 Vineyard Avenue, Constantia. On the Constantia Wine Route it stands apart for where you taste: not a glass pavilion on a lawn, but The Tunnel—a 1965 underpass beneath the M3 freeway that now stores wine, hosts private functions, and welcomes visitors for tastings with olive oil. For travellers who already know Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Steenberg, this stop adds a quieter, family-farm chapter—Sauvignon Blanc–led wines, olive groves, an equestrian yard, and a tasting room with Constantiaberg views that feels unlike any other cellar door in the valley.

History: From Alphen Fragment to Family Tunnel

Nova Zonnestraal formed part of historic Alphen Estate in the 1700s. The present family story on the official site traces the farm’s purchase by the owner’s father in 1936 from the Cloetes of Alphen. In the early 1960s, planners cut the Blue Route (M3) through Constantia properties; after negotiation, the family secured a tunnel so farming below the freeway could continue. Built in 1965, that passage later became wine storage. Renovations begun around 2017 under the late Don revealed how striking the west-facing space could be for functions and tasting—first for family, then for guests. The farm name means “ray of sunshine” in Dutch; sunset over Constantia Nek still frames that story when you stand inside the tunnel.

Today Constantia Royale remains a small family project: grapes and olives on roughly seven hectares of Sauvignon Blanc flanked by olive groves and paddocks, alongside a working equestrian yard. Winemaker Roger Burton oversees vineyards and wines. Production is deliberately limited—this is not a high-volume tourism manor with multiple restaurants.

Wines & Olive Oil: Sauvignon Blanc Focus

The core label is Constantia Royale, a limited-production Sauvignon Blanc from Nova Zonnestraal fruit. Don’s Reserve—described officially as a superior blend—adds another dimension and is poured alongside current and older Constantia Royale vintages in the tunnel. Reviews locally and abroad are cited on the estate’s own pages; treat specific scores as marketing copy and ask the tasting host about the bottles open that day.

Olive oil is part of the walk-in visit: the dedicated Tunnel page invites guests who arrive without a large booking to “enjoy our wine and olive oil.” There is no separate priced olive-oil flight published as a ticketed product—expect oil alongside the wine tasting rather than a standalone olive spa experience. Confirm what is open on the day when you call Weaver.

Visiting: The Tunnel — Verify Hours Before You Go

Verified offering: wine tasting in The Tunnel at R100 per person, covering current and older Constantia Royale vintages plus Don’s Reserve. Official Tunnel page hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 11:00–16:00. For groups of about six, phone Weaver on 066 364 0888 beforehand (same 11:00–16:00 window); otherwise walk-ins are welcomed. Larger group tastings and venue hire go through Sarah Rennison at sarah@novazonnestraal.com. Wine sales and general enquiries: wine@constantiaroyale.co.za.

Important caveat: the homepage Tunnel blurb still says tastings on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, while the dedicated Tunnel page and Weaver’s phone line state Tuesday–Saturday. Prefer the Tunnel page and phone confirmation the day before you visit—do not rely on the shorter homepage summary alone.

There is no restaurant or overnight stay published under the Constantia Royale cellar-door offering. Pair the tunnel stop with nearby Constantia tasting rooms or restaurants if you want a full lunch. Parking and access sit on a working family farm with an equestrian yard—drive carefully and follow on-site guidance.

Practical Tips for the Constantia Wine Route

• Book or call: Weaver 066 364 0888 for small parties; sarah@novazonnestraal.com for larger groups or venue hire; wine@constantiaroyale.co.za for wine sales.
• Address: Nova Zonnestraal, 6 Vineyard Avenue, Constantia 7806.
• Price: R100 pp tasting (official Tunnel page).
• Hours conflict: homepage Tue/Thu vs Tunnel page Tue–Sat 11:00–16:00—confirm before travel.
• Olive oil: available on walk-in visits with wine; no separate published fee.
• Route fit: ideal between southern Constantia stops (Uitsig, Steenberg/Tokai) and valley icons; allow time to find the tunnel entrance off Vineyard Avenue.
• Payment & groups: ask Weaver about card facilities and maximum walk-in capacity when you call.
• Driver: Constantia traffic and the M3 corridor reward a designated driver or transfer.

Why Visit Constantia Royale

Choose Constantia Royale if you want a unique Constantia tasting—literally under the freeway—with family history, Sauvignon Blanc and Don’s Reserve, and olive oil on a compact 17-hectare farm. It suits curious wine travellers and small groups more than families seeking playgrounds, museum routes or fine-dining on site. When hours are confirmed, The Tunnel is one of the most memorable cellar-door settings on the Western Cape wine portal’s Constantia list: quiet, west-facing, and firmly rooted in Nova Zonnestraal’s living farm story.