Vin de Constance
A prestigious dessert wine, immortalized in Charles Baudelaire’s poems.
Often described as one of the most beautiful vineyards in the world, the Klein Constantia estate is, in fact, the first wine farm in Southern Africa. Created in 1685 by the governor of the Dutch East India Company (known in Dutch as the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie), Simon van der Stel, the farm was originally used not only to produce wine but also fruit and vegetables and for cattle breeding. Simon, often regarded as the founder of the wine industry in South Africa, was a passionate winemaker. He was the first to recognize the potential of the decomposed granite soils of this region facing False Bay and surrounded by the sea on both sides. He chose this area, gently cooled by the ocean breezes, to plant his vines and named it Constantia.
After van der Stel's death in 1712, the estate was divided and sold in three parts. The part surrounding the manor house was sold to the Cloete family in 1778, who enlarged the vineyard and introduced grape varieties such as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Pontac, Muscadelle and Chenin Blanc. On the death of Hendrik Cloete in 1818, the estate was divided and the upper part became the property of the son, Johan Gerhard Cloete, under the name of Klein Constantia.
Today the estate covers 146 hectares and produces some of the best wines in South Africa, including the mythical dessert wine, prized by rulers and aristocracy throughout 18th century Europe: Vin de Constance!
This legendary wine has been savoured by the greatest minds, from Napoleon and Baudelaire, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, to Nelson Mandela. Served in Buckingham and in the greatest houses all over the world, the Muscat de Frontignan has enjoyed a great success for more than three centuries. It was named "Constance" in honour of Simon van der Stel's wife.
Its production, however, was interrupted at the end of the 19th century due to the phylloxera epidemic that ravaged the vineyard. In the 1980s, the Jooste family, who owned the estate at the time, revived this prestigious estate, which had disappeared for almost a century. The first modern-day Vin de Constance was harvested in 1986.
Since its reintroduction in 1986, the Vin de Constance has always been on the list of the best wines in the world. The 2016 vintage that we are presenting to you today is also one of them.
Deeply complex and robust, on the nose this wine opens with the notes of Seville orange marmalade, honeysuckle and ginger. The body is smooth and full, with intense flavours ranging from dried mango to fresh vanilla and lively citrus zest. These flavours provide a perfect balance in the mouth with a delicious finish.
This sweet wine will perfectly marry with foie gras, blue cheese, crème brûlée or dark chocolate fondant. However, if you decide to pass up the traditional after-meal’s delicacies , the Vin de Constance will undoubtedly be a dessert itself.
KLEIN CONSTANTIA - Vin de Constance - 2016 - Bottle of 50 cl
Login to your online account to reserve your item
or contact us at +41 22 552 2799