VIN DE CONSTANCE: A NAME, AN APPELLATION AND A STYLE OF WINE THAT HAS SURVIVED AND TRANSCENDED IN TIME, DESPITE THE VAGARIES OF HISTORY AND THE AFFAIRS OF MEN’ MICHAEL FRIDJHON

Dating back to 1685 and described as one of the world’s most beautiful wine estates, Klein Constantia is set amidst ancient trees on the upper foothills of the Constantiaberg with views across False Bay. Klein Constantia produces some of South Africa’s top wines thanks to its perfect location for cool climate wines, including one of the world’s best natural sweet wines, Vin de Constance.

Favoured by kings and emperors, preferred by the aristocracy, and acquired by generals, the ‘sweet, luscious and excellent’ wine from Constantia rivalled the appeal of Tokaj in the European courts of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Following the devastation caused by Phylloxera at the end of the 19th Century, the wine was revived by Klein Constantia in 1986, reaffirming this unique natural sweet wine’s place in history. Since being re-introduced, Vin de Constance has consistently appeared in lists of the world’s top wines; the 2007 vintage was awarded 97 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, making it the highest rated South African sweet wine in history.

Today, Klein Constantia continues to make wines that reflect the cool Constantia climate, as well as their historic tradition under the watchful eye of talented winemaker, Matthew Day.

We look forward to welcoming Matthew to the Club; a man who was aged just 29 at the time of becoming Chief Winemaker, and subsequently entering the long list of winemakers who have been involved in making this wine for the last 300 years.

I do hope you are able to join us for this seated Masterclass tasting, of what Hugh Johnson OBE has described as some of the finest sweet wine in the world.

We will taste:

2014 Vin de Constance
2013 Vin de Constance
2012 Vin de Constance
2007 Vin de Constance
2004 Vin de Constance

We will also taste blending components of the yet to be released 2015 vintage