Exclusive, historic Constantia Uitsig wine estate on market for a whopping R175m

ONE of the Cape's most exclusive wine estates, the Constantia Uitsig, is on the market for R175-million.

It is nestled against the back slopes of Table Mountain in the heart of the Constantia Wine Valley.

This is an opportunity to acquire a sought-after working wine estate with award-winning hospitality and restaurant facilities, as well as the potential for further development, say Seeff Constantia agents Marie Durr and Jack Bensch.

The Constantia Wine Valley boasts a unique terroir, perfect climate, fertile soil and a winemaking history that dates to 1685, when Simon van der Stel was granted Groot Constantia.

This farm was subdivided to include four more estates – Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia, Steenberg and Constantia Uitsig; these farms boast some of the finest wines in the country.

The farm itself dates to 1894, when it was acquired by Willem Lategan and served as the family home for five generations. It was restored and viticulture reintroduced in 1988.

The estate is about 60ha in extent with 33ha under vines.

Grape varieties include sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, semillon, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and hanepoot table grapes.

It boasts award-winning wines; banqueting and event facilities; a wine shop; three award-winning restaurants; a hotel with 16 luxuriously furnished cottages that have private access to an outdoor swimming pool, and a guest lounge and spa with six multipurpose treatment rooms.

There is also a world-renowned private cricket oval and there are stabling facilities for 30 horses.

The main restaurant is located in the original Cape Dutch manor house. The old slave bell is also still on the estate. The beautiful gardens include water features and old oak trees. Additional facilities include labourers' cottages and offices. Constantia Uitsig is a landmark destination on the Cape's wine tourism route and is popular with local and international visitors, not only for its wine tasting and gourmet offerings, but also as a holiday, wedding and event venue.

According to Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk, wine tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative sectors of the global tourism market, and, in 2009, contributed an estimated R4.3-billion to South Africa's tourism revenue.

The first bottled wines on the estate were produced in 1993, and, since then, wine production has increased steadily.

Today, Constantia Uitsig wines enjoy a four-star plus rating from the Platter's Wine Guide.

The estate produces about 140 tons of grapes annually, of which about 30 tons are sold to third parties.

It still utilises the production facilities of the neighbouring Steenberg wine farm, but offers immense potential to develop its own winery.