Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia is a historic wine estate in Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa. Its origins are connected to Constantia, one of the earliest wine-farming areas established in the Cape, founded in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, governor of the Dutch Cape Colony. The original Constantia property combined vineyards with fruit cultivation, vegetable production and livestock farming. Van der Stel selected the sheltered valley for its decomposed granite soils, favorable climate and position near False Bay. After van der Stel's death, the original estate was divided into separate properties. The portion that became Klein Constantia passed through several owners and was at one stage known as Hoop op Constantia. Winemaking resumed there in the early eighteenth century, and the property eventually became associated with the Cloete family. Under the Cloetes, the vineyards were expanded and the estate's sweet wine gained international prestige. The historical Constantia dessert wine, made chiefly from Muscat de Frontignan grapes that were allowed to become highly concentrated, became one of the most celebrated wines of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It was exported to European markets and was associated in literary and historical accounts with figures including Napoleon Bonaparte. The upper portion of the property formally became known as Klein Constantia in the nineteenth century. In the early twentieth century, Abraham Lochner de Villiers and his wife, Clara Hussey de Villiers, acquired the estate and undertook an extensive restoration of the manor and grounds. Their period of ownership combined agricultural activity with an elaborate social life, and the property became known for its architecture, gardens and hospitality as well as its wine. The estate later remained within the de Villiers family for several decades. A major modern turning point came in 1980, when Duggie Jooste purchased Klein Constantia. Working with Stellenbosch University viticulture specialist Professor Chris Orffer and winemaker Ross Gower, the estate began reconstructing the historic sweet-wine style. The modern version used Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and was developed through vineyard, cellar and production work intended to recover the character associated with the old Constantia wines. Lowell Jooste subsequently joined the business. The first modern-era vintage was released in 1986 and received strong critical attention, establishing Vin de Constance as the estate's signature product and helping restore South Africa's reputation for internationally distinctive fine wine. The Jooste family sold Klein Constantia in 2011 to Czech businessman Zdeněk Bakala and British businessman Charles D. Harman. In 2012, Klein Constantia merged with Anwilka, a Stellenbosch vineyard, bringing Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats into the ownership structure. This connected the estate with established Bordeaux wine expertise while broadening the group's portfolio beyond Constantia. Today, Klein Constantia is primarily positioned as a premium and heritage wine estate. Its portfolio includes Vin de Constance, white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, premium Estate wines, the KC lifestyle range, special-release bottlings, a single-vineyard Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc and a Méthode Cap Classique sparkling wine. Through its relationship with Anwilka, the broader portfolio has also included red wines such as Anwilka and Petit Frère. The estate is also associated with a kramat, or Muslim shrine, marking the grave of Sheikh Abdurachman Matebe Shah, a figure connected with the early history of Islam at the Cape.

The history of Klein Constantia begins with the creation of the wider Constantia wine estate in 1685. Simon van der Stel, governor of the Cape, identified the sheltered Constantia Valley as suitable for viticulture after investigating soils across the colony. The original property included vineyards, fruit and vegetable cultivation and cattle farming. Its decomposed granite soils and maritime setting became central to the area's later reputation. Following van der Stel's death in 1712, the original estate was divided. The section that developed into Klein Constantia was acquired by Johannes Colijin, the son of a freed slave, and was also known for a period as Hoop op Constantia. Colijin resumed wine production in 1718 and began sending wine to overseas markets. In 1778, the property surrounding van der Stel's manor was acquired by the Cloete family. They expanded the vineyards, planting varieties including Frontignac, Pontac, red and white Muscadel and Steen, and improved the estate buildings. The Cloete period established the fame of Constantia's sweet wine. The wine was principally made from Muscat de Frontignan grapes that were allowed to dry on the vine, concentrating sugars and flavors. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Constantia became a coveted luxury wine in Europe. Historical accounts associate it with Napoleon's exile on Saint Helena, where substantial quantities were reportedly delivered, and with literary references by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Charles Baudelaire. After Hendrik Cloete died in 1818, the upper portion passed to his son Johan Gerhard Cloete and took the name Klein Constantia. In 1913, Abraham Lochner de Villiers and Clara Hussey de Villiers bought the estate. They restored the manor and developed the property as an imposing country residence, adding facilities and landscaping while continuing agricultural and wine activities. Their entertaining and lavish hospitality made Klein Constantia a prominent social venue in Cape society. Because the couple had no children, their nephew Jan de Villiers was designated as heir. He studied viticulture in California and later inherited the property after the deaths of Abraham and Clara, although the estate's highly social era eventually came to an end. Duggie Jooste acquired Klein Constantia in 1980 and initiated the estate's modern revival. With Professor Chris Orffer of Stellenbosch University and winemaker Ross Gower, he worked to recreate the historic Constantia sweet-wine tradition using Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Lowell Jooste later joined the operation. The estate completed a modern cellar and tasting room during the 1980s, and the first vintage of the new Vin de Constance was released in 1986. The wine's critical reception quickly made it one of South Africa's most prominent fine-wine exports. In May 2011, the Jooste family sold Klein Constantia to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman. The following year, the estate merged with Anwilka, a Stellenbosch vineyard previously associated with Lowell Jooste, Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats. The transaction added new shareholders and expanded the ownership group's wine interests. Klein Constantia has continued to produce Vin de Constance alongside dry white wines, premium estate bottlings, lifestyle wines and special releases. The property also has cultural and religious significance because it contains the kramat of Sheikh Abdurachman Matebe Shah, a Cape Muslim teacher and cleric traditionally associated with the early spread of Islam in southern Africa. The shrine forms part of the layered colonial, agricultural and Cape Muslim history connected with the Constantia landscape.

1. 2012Merger with Anwilka

   Klein Constantia merged with the Stellenbosch vineyard Anwilka and added Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats as shareholders.

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2. 2011Change of ownership

   The Jooste family sold Klein Constantia to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman.

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3. 1986First modern Vin de Constance vintage released

   Klein Constantia released the first modern-era vintage of its recreated Constantia dessert wine, receiving strong critical attention.

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4. 1980Jooste-era revival begins

   Duggie Jooste acquired the estate and began a program to revive its historic sweet-wine identity.

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5. 1913De Villiers ownership begins

   Abraham Lochner de Villiers and Clara Hussey de Villiers purchased Klein Constantia and restored the manor and estate grounds.

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6. 1818Upper portion becomes Klein Constantia

   After Hendrik Cloete's death, the upper section passed to Johan Gerhard Cloete and became known as Klein Constantia.

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7. 1778Cloete family acquires the estate section

   The Cloete family acquired the portion surrounding the historic manor, expanded its vineyards and helped establish Constantia sweet wine's international reputation.

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8. 1718Winemaking resumes at the future Klein Constantia property

   Johannes Colijin resumed wine production on the portion of the divided Constantia estate that later became Klein Constantia.

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9. 1685Constantia wine estate established

   Simon van der Stel established the original Constantia estate in the Constantia Valley, creating the historical foundation from which Klein Constantia later emerged.

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A premium heritage wine estate combining Cape winemaking history, luxury hospitality and internationally recognized sweet-wine production.

• Vin de ConstanceNatural sweet wine1986

  Klein Constantia's signature wine and the modern revival of the historic Constantia dessert-wine style. It is made primarily from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, with grapes traditionally allowed to ripen to high concentration. The wine is positioned as an icon bottling and is central to the estate's international identity.

• Estate rangePremium wine

  The premium Estate range represents Klein Constantia's broader fine-wine offering beyond Vin de Constance. It forms part of the estate's structured portfolio of dry and sweet wines and communicates the property-based, heritage-oriented character of the brand.

• KC rangeLifestyle wine

  The KC range is the estate's lifestyle-oriented wine line. It complements the more prestigious Estate bottlings with wines intended to extend the Klein Constantia name across a broader range of occasions and price positions.

• Perdeblokke Sauvignon BlancSingle-vineyard white wine

  A special-release, single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc associated with Klein Constantia's effort to express distinctive vineyard sites within the estate. It sits alongside the core portfolio as a more site-specific and limited-style offering.

• Méthode Cap ClassiqueSparkling wine

  Klein Constantia's traditional-method sparkling-wine offering, included among the estate's special-release and broader portfolio wines.

• Sauvignon BlancWhite wine

  A dry white-wine category produced by the estate and part of its internationally oriented portfolio of wines from the Constantia site.

• RieslingWhite wine

  A white-wine offering identified with Klein Constantia's portfolio alongside Sauvignon Blanc and its iconic sweet wine.

• 2012Merge with AnwilkaM&A

  The new ownership structure sought to connect Klein Constantia with a broader premium-wine platform.

  What changed. Klein Constantia merged with Anwilka, a Stellenbosch vineyard, and welcomed Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats as shareholders.

  Aftermath. The combination broadened the group's wine interests to include both Constantia sweet wine and Anwilka red wines.

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• 2011Sell the estate to new investorsM&A

  The Jooste family ended its ownership after several decades of rebuilding the estate and its wine reputation.

  What changed. Klein Constantia was sold to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman.

  Aftermath. The transaction introduced a new ownership phase while retaining the estate's premium heritage and Vin de Constance focus.

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• 1980Rebuild the historic Constantia sweet-wine styleStrategy

  After acquiring Klein Constantia, Duggie Jooste sought to restore the estate's historic reputation for distinguished sweet wine.

  What changed. The estate worked with Professor Chris Orffer and winemaker Ross Gower to develop a modern interpretation based primarily on Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, while rebuilding cellar and tasting-room capacity.

  Aftermath. The first modern vintage was released in 1986 and became the foundation of Klein Constantia's contemporary international identity.

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• 2012Klein Constantia merges with Anwilka

  The estate merged with Stellenbosch vineyard Anwilka, adding Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats as shareholders and linking the business with a broader premium-wine portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2011Jooste family sells Klein Constantia

  Klein Constantia changed ownership when the Jooste family sold the estate to Zdeněk Bakala and Charles D. Harman.

  M&ALeadership change
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1. Klein Constantia
2. Klein Constantia Estate