REVIEW: BEAU CONSTANTIA

Beau Constantia has been my favourite Constantia wine farm I’ve been to, to date. There. I said it. It’s pretty much the whole package. The red wines are beautiful, the view is gorgeous and the setting is just spectacular. Nestled in the back nook of Constantia Neck, the ever-so boutique Beau Constantia is the most modern of all the local farms, peaking out from the Silver Trees, looking out over the valley, towards False Bay. I was totally in love, from the moment I walked in, to when I walked (stumbled, gracefully) out.

The Constantia Valley is oldest wine producing region in South Africa – with nine award winning farms in the region, churning out international quality wines. The valley has been as to be called the ‘cradle of quality wine making in South Africa’ and is famous for producing wines enjoyed by Napoleon Bonaparte and his 18th century royals.

Our table had mixed ideas of what to do with the day. So half decided to treat themselves to a bottle of non-vintage MCC, and the rest of us would indulge in a 4-wine tasting: two from the Pas De Nom lifestyle range and two bespoke wines from the premium Beau Constantia range, created by wine-maker Justin van Wyk. I’m NO sommelier, but I do love a good glass of something magical. And I definitely found it here.

To be honest, I found the white blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier very heavy (I suppose, it would be good for a winter dinner, paired with a heavy fish or white meat, as our wine host told us), and I personally found the red blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot a little sharp – but there were split opinions at the table.

The hand-crafted Beau Constantia Lucca and Beau Constantia Aiden have got to be two of the most beautiful wines produced in the Constantia Valley. If I had to pick a favourite, I would have to pick the Aiden, as it was a bit smoother and had a clean after taste, where the Lucca left the mouth full of fruit and spices. But again, our table had a mixed vote.

As the afternoon ran away with us, we got fairly peckish. Sadly, there was only one this on the tasting room menu for us to order – a R185 charcuterie platter. I must say, I was expecting about three times what we were delivered. Although what I could eat was tasty, and was great to have something to nibble on, it didn’t really touch sides. Also, two of us at the table don’t eat cold meats, and one doesn’t eat cheese – which made the food selection a little disappointing. I would have liked to see some fresh breads and spreads or just a mixed cheese platters on offer, and maybe a vegan snack or some pickle and olives? The Chef’s Warehouse down stairs was fully booked, so we sadly had to have lunch else where.

Our wine host, Andrew was so great! As we had visited on Mother’s Day, we all received a glass of the non-vintage MCC on arrival, as well as a Beau Constantia Gin and Tonic while we waited for our guests to arrive. He was incredibly knowledgeable and very interactive with our rowdy table.

Follow them on social: Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Tasting Room is open from 11am until 6pm, Tuesday – Sunday. A tasting of four wines at R45 per person. The number of wines tasted and the price may vary depending on the yield of the season. Please note the venue is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing day, New Years Day and Good Friday. To book your table and wine host, either email them on reservations@beauconstantia.com or call +27 21 794 8632. You can find the venue at 1043 Constantia Main Road, Constantia, just next to La Parada and Harbour House.

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