One of the most incredible things about Cape Town is our quality of wine and abundance of beautiful vineyards. Whether you want to head out of the city to Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, or stay in town and go wine tasting in Constantia – there are so many options!
Wine tasting with friends and family is the perfect summer activity. You’ll enjoy spectacular views and world-class wines, and in Constantia, you can go from one winery to the next! You’ll also find delicious charcuterie boards and one or two chocolate and wine pairings, for an extra indulgent day.
I’ve put together a resource on all the best wine tasting options on the Constantia wine route, with prices, hours and contact details for each winery. Now you just have to pick your favourite!
Vineyards on the Constantia Wine Route
You have a surprising number of options when going wine tasting in Constantia! I’ve given each of their prices and hours to help you make your decision, as well as my experience of these wonderful wineries.
Eagle’s Nest
Eagle’s Nest is a real family favourite! Trading in the vineyard views for tall-stretching trees and clinging vines, it’s a wonderful winery to start your tour off with.
There’s a lot of space for kids to run around while the adults taste their way through some of South Africa’s best wines. The charcuterie boards are fresh and delicious, and there are even ice creams available for the kids.
This is, I believe, the most laid-back of the wineries, with charming service and a happy atmosphere. It’s also the second stop on the hop on hop off wine route.
Wine tasting price: R85 for 4 wines
Open hours: 10h00 – 16h30
Contact: +27 21 794 4095
Constantia Glen
Constantia Glen is one of the prettiest wine tasting options on the route. It’s glasshouse-style tasting room overlooks the vineyards, with plenty of outdoor space as well. The platters here are excellent, as is the rest of the food!
The staff are very accommodating, and when we found that there wasn’t any space in the tasting room, they made a plan for us to have a similar experience, with descriptions of the wines and everything, using carafes of wine by the glass.
Wine tasting price: R95 for 4 wines | R125 for 7, the Full House tasting
Open hours: 10h00 – 17h00
Contact: +27 21 795 5639
Read next — the best wine farms in Cape Town! (many of these wonderful spots are featured)
Buitenverwachting
Buitenverwachting is the first place I ever went wine tasting in Constantia, and it holds a special place in my heart! It’s a beautiful historic wine cellar with wooden floors and leather couches, a real traditional, indulgent spot. You can enjoy your wine tasting in here, or out on the terrace overlooking the garden and the massive old pine tree.
Their charcuterie boards are simple and delicious, with fresh breads and local cheeses. And I’d highly recommend you look out for their Noble Late Harvest, particularly if you enjoy a sweet wine. It’s still my favourite ever!
Wine tasting price: R 70 for 5 wines
Open hours: 10h00 – 15h00 | Closed Sundays
Contact: +27 21 794 5190
Beau Constantia
Beau Constantia is the fanciest winery on this list! I actually haven’t been wine tasting here, I did their seven-course Easter lunch, and it was absolutely incredible. They have a glass wine tasting room sitting at the top of Constantia Valley, with fantastic wines and perfect views. Even the bathroom views are amazing here!
Wine tasting price: R100 – R160
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11h00 – 17h00
Contact: +27 21 794 8632
Groot Constantia
Established in 1685, Groot Constantia is the first wine farm in South Africa! This is the best place to learn about South Africa’s wine history. You can even join a guided cellar tour and have a look at the Manor House Museum. Clearly, it’s an ideal destination for wine connoisseurs.
I’d highly recommend the chocolate wine pairing – the chocolates are handcrafted to match their paired wines, and it’s a wonderful, delicious experience. The wine tasting area doesn’t have a restaurant of its own, but there are a number of excellent restaurants on the sprawling property – we carried a charcuterie board up from the one to accompany our wines, and it was terrific! I also found that the wines here were some of the best I’ve had.
Wine tasting price: R105 for 5 wines | R160 for wine and handcrafted chocolate pairing
Open hours: 09h00 – 18h00 daily
Contact: +27 21 794 5128
Klein Constantia
Klein Constantia, too, was established in 1685, as part of a vineyard that gave the Constantia neighbourhood its name. This is a really lovely little winery with a tasting room that overlooks its very modern cellar. The wines are of fantastic quality, the food is terrific, and the atmosphere is cosy and comfortable.
Wine tasting price: R120 for 6 wines
Open hours: 10h00 – 17h00
Contact: +27 21 794 5188
Constantia wine tours
Constantia is easy – you can go wine tasting at one vineyard, catch an uber to the next, and tick them all off very happily like that. However, if you want to make a special experience of it, you may want to try one of these tours!
The cheapest and simplest is the hop-on-hop-off bus, which will allow you to visit the best wineries on this list without stressing about transportation. But they get a little more interesting than that!
Hop on Hop off bus tour
This bus is one of the most convenient tourist options in the city, with routes that explore everything from Sea Point to Hout Bay. One of the four bus routes is the Purple Wine Tour route. It takes you to Groot Constantia Estate, Eagles’ Nest, and Beau Constantia – which, unless you have the alcohol resistance of a giant, will be as much as you’ll want in a day.
My favourite thing about this bus tour is that you can get a two-day ticket and make an exciting weekend of it, spending one day on one route – like the Yellow route, which takes you to all the museums of Cape Town City Center – and the next day wine tasting and enjoying the gorgeous lush greenery of Constantia.
Check prices and availability here!
You can also read my post on Cape Town’s hop on hop off bus tour here!
Bicycle tour through the wine valley
If you’re planning a wine tasting as part of a special family trip or honeymoon – or even a fancy birthday – consider a bicycle tour. You’ll need to be a bit fit, but it’s such a lovely, slow way to experience Cape Town’s oldest wine route.
This tour includes lunch and wine tastings, so it’s extra draw is the lack of planning you’ll have to do! Just drink, eat, ride and be merry.
Check prices and availability here!
You can also join an E-bike tour, if you’re not quite feeling up to putting in the peddle-power yourself!
Hike and wine
If you want to do some wine tasting as part of a larger nature-focused experience, this is the perfect combination. You’ll be hiking Table Mountain with a knowledgeable guide, coming down the mountain at the fantastically beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens. From there, you head to Constantia Glen for some well-deserved wine tasting and relaxation.
I’d say that for locals who have easy access to the mountain at all times, this tour’s not the one I’d pick. But for foreigners who could use a little mountain guidance, accompaniment and interesting information, it’s perfect.
Check prices and availability here!
Last thoughts on Constantia wine tasting
So, now you have all the information you’ll need to pick a winery and enjoy a tasting. If you’re planning your trip for a weekend, I’d highly recommend booking in advance. We went just this last weekend, and struggled to find an open tasting room (I’m a terrible planner!).
You’ll also likely want to make a day of it, as it just gets better and better as you go along. But if you’re on a tight budget, one tasting at Buitenverwachting, the cheapest winery on the list, will make for a truly lovely day out.
