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Constantia · Western Cape

Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia is a wine farm in Constantia, Cape Town, Western Cape. About 12 km from Cape Town.

12 km from Cape Town Restaurant
Groot Constantia
Wikipedia / Wikimedia — Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia: South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm since 1685

Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm and a Provincial Heritage site in Cape Town’s Constantia Valley. Wine has been made here without interruption since 13 July 1685, when Commander (later Governor) Simon van der Stel received the land grant that founded the Constantia name. For Western Cape wine travellers, it is the one estate where cellar-door tasting, an Iziko-managed Cape Dutch manor museum, the historic Cloete Cellar, free VoiceMap audio walks, two on-estate restaurants and gift retail sit on a single circular Visitors Route. Official site: grootconstantia.co.za. Address: Groot Constantia Road, Constantia.

Estate entry without the packaged Visitors Route is free (estate communications). That matters: you can stroll, shop and book tasting separately—or buy a combined ticket when you want museum + cellar + tasting in one pass.

History visitors actually walk through

Van der Stel built a homestead and farmed vines, fruit, vegetables and cattle for VOC shipping. After his death in 1712 the vast grant was divided; the portion with the house became known as Groot Constantia. The Cloete family (from 1778/1779) reshaped the estate: Hendrik Cloete commissioned architect Louis Thibault for the Cloete Cellar (1791), with a celebrated pediment relief, and upgraded the manor. Constantia sweet wine from this cellar became world-famous; an 1821 Grand Constance bottle has been returned and displayed in the Cloete Cellar. Cloetes sold in 1885; the manor later entered museum stewardship (Iziko). Today the Groot Constantia Trust runs the working wine farm while Iziko Museums interpret the Manor House and cultural history—including slavery narratives in the Orientation Centre—so the visit is heritage as well as hedonism.

What to book: tasting, chocolate, Visitors Route

Official experience page packages (confirm live ticket types and rand prices on Webtickets—itemised R amounts were not stably printed on the experience page as of research date 2026-10-01; Webtickets banners have shown ticket ranges roughly R15–R315):

Wine tasting

  • Five wines of your choice
  • Souvenir branded glass
  • Venues: Bottom Cellar, Top Cellar, Production Cellar per published windows

Chocolate and wine pairing

  • Five selected wines with five handcrafted chocolates
  • Souvenir glass
  • Can be added to the Visitors Route
  • Older blog prices are flagged outdated on estate materials—buy via Webtickets or the estate counter

Visitors Route Experience

  • Manor House Museum (Iziko) + Cloete Cellar access
  • Guided or self-guided cellar tour hourly 10h00–16h00
  • Wine tasting (5 wines) + souvenir glass
  • Free VoiceMap audio tours (museum, cellar, vineyards)
  • Production Cellar tours also listed on Webtickets at 11h00, 13h00, 15h00 (pre-book where possible)
  • Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

Tickets: Webtickets or estate +27 21 794 5128 / enquiries@grootconstantia.co.za.

Opening times (official opening-times page)

  • Wine tasting & retail shop: daily 09h00–18h00; last tasting ticket 17h00
  • Production Cellar / Cloete Cellar / Manor House: daily 10h00–17h00; last tasting ticket 16h00
  • Experience-page venue windows also note Bottom Cellar tasting service into the evening close; follow the ticket desk on the day
  • Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: close 16h00

Signature wines

Look for Grand Constance (revived Muscat-based sweet wine historically tied to the Cloete Cellar), Gouverneurs Reserve, estate Sauvignon Blanc and other current releases in the tasting and shop. The Cloete Cellar remains the interpretive heart of the Grand Constance story; half museum, half tasting space in current visitor layout. Winemaker Boela Gerber’s modern recreation of Grand Constance (from Muscat de Frontignan beside the Manor House, per estate heritage articles) is the sweet-wine line guests specifically ask for after walking the Cloete Cellar.

Eat and picnic

Jonkershuis Restaurant (beside the Homestead): Cape Malay heritage positioning, child-friendly lawns, private dining. Book: reservations@jhuis.co.za / +27 21 794 6255 / jonkershuisconstantia.co.za.

Simon’s Restaurant: seasonal/local cooking, classics and estate favourites, group dinner functions. Book: info@simons.co.za / +27 21 794 1143 / simons.co.za.

Picnics: baskets only via Jonkershuis or Simon’s; reserve at least 24 hours ahead. Guests may not bring their own picnic baskets or food onto the estate—enforced on the official experience page.

Wine & gift shop: heritage-inspired retail, estate wines and designer gifts.

VoiceMap and Cape Town Big 6

Three free self-guided VoiceMap audio walks (museum, cellar, vineyards) work offline after download. Groot Constantia is also listed among Cape Town’s Big 6 attractions alongside Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch, Robben Island and Cape Point—useful when building a first-time Cape itinerary that mixes city icons with Constantia terroir.

Practical tips

1. Buy Visitors Route tickets online before weekend peaks. 2. Do Manor House and Cloete Cellar before the last museum ticket window. 3. Add chocolate pairing only if you want a sweeter arc after dry flights. 4. Book restaurant or picnic baskets separately—do not assume walk-in picnic space. 5. Allow two to three hours if you want museums + tasting + a meal. 6. City Sightseeing hop-on buses serve the estate; parking fills on summer weekends.

FAQ

Is estate entry free? Yes for general estate access; museum/cellar/tasting packages are ticketed.

Are tasting prices on the website? Not as stable itemised R amounts on the experience page at research time—confirm on Webtickets.

Contact: +27 21 794 5128 · enquiries@grootconstantia.co.za · https://grootconstantia.co.za/

Things to do at Groot Constantia

  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Wine tasting

    Official experience page: tasting of 5 wines of your choice with souvenir branded wine glass; available at Bottom/Top/Production cellar venues per published windows. Tickets online via Webtickets or at estate Tel 021-794 5128.

    Price itemised tasting fee not printed on live experience page as of 2026-10-01; Webtickets event banner lists tickets R15–R315 — confirm live ticket types on Webtickets

    Booking: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1465426753 ; enquiries@grootconstantia.co.za / +27 21 794-5128

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Chocolate & wine pairing

    Official experience: 5 selected wines with 5 handcrafted chocolates + souvenir glass; can add to Visitors Route. Older chocolate blog notes prices outdated — use Webtickets/estate counter.

    Booking: Webtickets or estate

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Visitors Route (Manor House museum + Cloete Cellar + cellar tour)

    Official: Manor House Museum (Iziko) + Cloete Cellar access; guided or self-guided cellar tour hourly 10h00–16h00; wine tasting (5 wines) + souvenir glass; free VoiceMap audio walking tours (museum, cellar, vineyards). Closed Good Friday & Christmas Day. Webtickets also lists Production Cellar tours 11h00, 13h00, 15h00 (pre-book where possible). Estate entry without Visitors Route is free (celebrate-summer article).

    Booking: Webtickets or on-site

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine sales

    Wine & gift shop

    Official: heritage-inspired retail, estate wines and gifts.

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Restaurants & dining

    VoiceMap audio tours

    On estate by Homestead; child-friendly lawns; Cape Malay heritage positioning; private dining / functions.

    Booking: reservations@jhuis.co.za / info@jhuis.co.za / +27 21 794-6255; www.jonkershuisconstantia.co.za

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Restaurants & dining

    Restaurant (Jonkershuis)

    Seasonal/local cooking; classics and estate favourites; group dinner functions.

    Booking: info@simons.co.za / functions@simons.co.za / +27 21 794-1143; www.simons.co.za

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Restaurants & dining

    Restaurant (Simon’s)

    Official: picnic baskets only via Jonkershuis or Simon’s; reserve ≥24 hours ahead; guests may NOT bring own picnic baskets/food onto estate.

    Booking: via Jonkershuis or Simon’s

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Picnics

    Picnics (estate baskets)

Browse all experience types

Notable wines

Grand Constance; Gouverneurs Reserve; Estate Sauvignon Blanc; Cape Ruby

Wines made here

Wine list from wine.co.za. The taste words are drawn from those notes, which are not reprinted here. Ask the cellar door what is pouring on the day.

Visiting with kids

Duck pond, sprawling lawns, kids menus and kids picnic baskets at Jonkershuis and Simon’s, plus a heritage Visitors Route kids love to explore.

With kids. About 24 min from Cape Town. Suited to toddlers, tweens, teens.

Kids menuAnimalsPicnicLawnsCasual foodPram friendlyDogs welcome

  • Visitors Route museum
  • cellar tour
  • VoiceMap audio
  • feed ducks

Groot Constantia is the easy headline pick for a Constantia family day, about 24 min from Cape Town without traffic. Both Jonkershuis and Simon's offer children's menus, and you can pre-order kids picnic baskets (Jonkershuis Kids Picnic R200; Simon's child basket R295 when we checked). Book picnics 24–48 hours ahead, because you can't bring your own food or baskets onto the estate. Between meals, children can feed the ducks at the pond, run on the sprawling lawns and explore the heritage Visitors Route, with its museum, cellar tour and VoiceMap audio guide. The estate is wheelchair accessible, and Simon's has dog-friendly outdoor areas and even a dog menu. We couldn't confirm a jungle gym on official pages, so plan your day around lawns, ducks and history rather than play equipment.

Before you go

  • Book ahead, especially on weekends and in school holidays.
  • Dogs are welcome. Confirm which areas, and keep them on a lead.
  • Pram or wheelchair access is listed.
  • A children's price is listed. Confirm the amount when you book.
Is there a kids menu?

Yes. Both Jonkershuis and Simon's offer children's menus, and both do kids picnic baskets.

Can we bring our own picnic?

No. Own food and picnic baskets aren't allowed; pre-book an estate basket 24–48 hours ahead.

Is there a playground?

No jungle gym is confirmed on official pages. Kids have lawns, the duck pond and the Visitors Route instead.

Nearby with children

  • Boulders Penguin Colony — Beach, Simon's Town · 18 km Website
  • Cape Town Science Centre — Kids museum, Observatory · 11 km Website
  • Company's Garden — Playground, Cape Town CBD · 12 km
  • Green Point Urban Park — Playground, Green Point · 15 km

Family notes checked 5 October 2026. Confirm on the farm’s website before you drive. Source. More family farms in Constantia. Things to do near this farm. Weddings on this farm.

Visiting with a dog

Simon's at Groot Constantia bills itself as a dog-friendly restaurant: leashed dogs at outdoor tables, water bowls and its own dog menu. Jonkershuis and the estate grounds also welcome leashed dogs.

Restaurant terraceFarm walkWater bowls

  • Simon's: well-behaved dogs only, leashed, designated outdoor dining areas only. Estate grounds: dogs on leads (older official posts)

Checked 6 October 2026. Source. More dog-friendly farms in Constantia.

Weddings here

Two wedding venues on the historic estate, Simon's and Jonkershuis. Ceremonies under ancient oaks with the 1685-era Manor House behind, receptions for up to 250 seated

Hosts weddings. Up to 250 seated. About 24 min from Cape Town. 32 min from the airport.

In-house cateringOutdoorIndoorWheelchair

Simon's Restaurant (main restaurant 120; mezzanine 70; Events Room; terrace; picnic area/lawn with willow trees); Jonkershuis (main restaurant 78; courtyard 120; private dining room 25; outside 150-250)

Outdoor ceremonies under ancient oaks / Oak Tree-lined Avenue backed by the Manor House; vineyard & False Bay backdrop (Jonkershuis); indoor ceremony option at Simon's

South Africa's oldest wine-producing estate; 300+-year-old Manor House, oak avenues, vineyards, Constantia Valley and False Bay views

Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine-producing estate. Weddings are hosted by the two on-estate restaurants, Simon’s and Jonkershuis, with ceremonies under ancient oaks or the Oak Tree-lined Avenue backed by the Manor House.

At a glance

  • Capacity: Jonkershuis formal sit-down up to 250; Simon’s 200 with no dancing / 160 with a dance floor
  • Spaces: Simon’s (main 120; mezzanine 70; Events Room; terrace; picnic lawn); Jonkershuis (main 78; courtyard 120; private dining 25; outside 150–250)
  • Ceremony: outdoor oaks / Avenue with Manor House backdrop; indoor option at Simon’s; vineyard and False Bay views
  • Catering: Simon’s and Jonkershuis bespoke menus with estate wines
  • Coordinator: function co-ordinators at both restaurants; Simon’s offers dedicated planning support
  • Stay: no on-site hotel rooms listed
  • Access: Simon’s notes wheelchair accessibility

Simon’s promotes winter weddings (indoor fireplace) and intimate or elopement spaces; Jonkershuis private dining room seats 25. No wedding prices are published. Before you book, ask for a written summary of inclusions (tables, linen, staffing, bar and ceremony set-up), finish times, the rain plan and any compulsory suppliers. Capacities and packages change, so rely on the estate's dated quote for your guest list and season.

Price: Rates on enquiry; no wedding package prices published on the official pages we checked (Simon’s 2025 brochure has a Weddings section without rates).

Last checked 5 October 2026 against the estate's official information. Confirm details directly before booking.

Before you enquire

  • Simon's: space for Bedouin structures with a list of tried-and-tested suppliers (2015 estate blog)
  • Simon's actively promotes winter weddings (indoor fireplace); no priced special published
How many guests can Groot Constantia seat?

Jonkershuis publishes formal sit-down weddings up to 250. Simon’s publishes 200 seated with no dancing, or 160 with a dance floor.

Where can we hold the ceremony?

Under ancient oaks or along the Oak Tree-lined Avenue with the Manor House behind, or indoors at Simon’s.

Is there a wedding coordinator?

Yes. Both restaurants have function co-ordinators; Simon’s offers dedicated planning support.

What does a Groot Constantia wedding cost?

Prices aren’t published. Request a dated quote from Simon’s or Jonkershuis.

Can we have a small wedding?

Yes. Simon’s lists intimate spaces and private elopements; Jonkershuis has a private dining room for 25.

Wedding notes checked 5 October 2026. Guest numbers and packages change. Ask the farm for the current offer. Enquire. Brochure. Source. More wedding farms in Constantia. With kids. With dogs. Tours.

Tours that stop here

All wine tours

Questions before you go

Where is Groot Constantia?

Groot Constantia is at Groot Constantia Road. Most visitors drive there from Cape Town in 15–40 minutes.

When is Groot Constantia open?

Open Sunday · 09h00 – 18h00. Hours change, so call +27 21 794 6255 before you drive.

How much is a wine tasting at Groot Constantia?

From R15. Prices change, so confirm when you book.

Can I eat at Groot Constantia?

Yes, there is a restaurant on the farm. Book ahead for weekend lunches.

Wine of Origin

Geographical unit: Western Cape → Coastal Region → Cape Town → Constantia

The Cape Town district covers the city's Wine of Origin wards — Constantia, Durbanville, Philadelphia, Hout Bay — the closest vineyards to the urban visitor.

Terroir snapshot

Elevation and soil figures are modelled at the pin, not a vineyard block survey. Use them to compare farms, not to quote a technical sheet.

Latitude
-34.03367
Longitude
18.44761
Elevation
51 m (Open-Meteo)

Sources

  • OpenStreetMap node 12537802201
  • Wikidata Q2487774
  • Wikipedia: Groot Constantia
  • Phone, hours, and facilities: farm website
  • Wine route membership: association listing
  • Wine list: wine.co.za
  • Family notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Wedding notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Dog notes: farm website, checked 6 October 2026
  • Tours: operator pages
  • Elevation: Open-Meteo
  • Soil: ISRIC SoilGrids

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