Just below Constantia Nek, minutes from Cape Town’s city centre, Constantia Glen is a premium boutique wine estate cradled between the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain ranges. The predominantly north-east facing slopes benefit from a unique position: they are the last to receive sunlight before sunset, extending exposure and promoting the slow ripening that contributes to the refined character of the wines.
The Waibel family from Austria purchased the property in 1960. For decades, the land was not commercially farmed, serving instead as an elite stud farm for champion Red Angus breeding stock from 1995. Then, in January 2000, following a significant wildfire on the Cape Peninsula, the decision was made to plant the first vineyards. The estate returned to its wine-growing roots, and today Justin van Wyk, Cellar Master and Managing Director since 2008, works closely with Etienne Southey, who manages the vineyards, to oversee the careful cultivation and production of their wines.
Set between two mountain ranges, the Constantia Wine Valley is a patchwork of unique microclimates. Here, cool maritime breezes drift inland from False Bay, tempering summer heat and maintaining a mild 16°C average temperature. Dryland farming in these conditions produces small, concentrated berries, while decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone soils lend freshness, structure and minerality. The result is a signature style – crisp whites and poised, fragrant reds that capture the valley’s cool-climate finesse.
For Justin, winemaking is a way of staying connected to the natural rhythm of the land. “The soil, climate and ever-changing weather all shape the wine in ways that can’t be predicted or controlled,” he says. “Even when working with the same vineyards, each vintage is a new story – a reflection of that year’s conditions.” The unpredictability, the need to adapt and respond in the moment, is what he finds most rewarding. It’s a balance of creativity, intuition and respect for nature – an approach that defines both the man and the estate.
