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The remarkable cool climate location, close proximity to the sea, altitude and diverse aspects
are some of Constantia Glen’s richest assets. All these, coupled with complex soil patterns,
shape the character and style of the fine and distinctive wines.
A comprehensive soil survey conducted by viticultural experts Dawid Saayman, Eben Archer and
Andrew Teubes, the latter staying on as viticultural consultant, revealed an almost perfect environment for the
cultivation of high quality dryland vineyards. The clay-rich subsoil allows for excellent water holding capacity.
Most of the vineyard blocks are planted on sites characterised by decomposed granite subsoils.
A feature of these mica-rich soils is their ability to impart a wonderful minerality to the wine.
Each vintage grown, vinified, and bottled at Constantia Glen shows a clear "fingerprint"
of its unique terroir offering wines of balance, elegance and remarkable character.
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Cool climate terroir
One of the major benefits of Constantia Glen’s fortuitous location and cool climate, is the prolonged slow
ripening period of the grapes. The longer grapes take to ripen the more flavour precursors can be laid
down in the grapes by the vine. This in turn means more flavour potential in the grapes and
ultimately in the resultant wine.
Cool climate areas such as Constantia allow for the moderate increase in sugar levels during the ripening phase
and this facilitates the even ripening of the tannic structure in the grapes without incurring the debt of too
high sugar levels at optimum ripeness. This gives the winemaking team a better chance than warmer areas
to achieve lower alcohol levels in the wine with perfectly ripe tannins. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec,
Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon all offer incredible aromas at full ripeness.
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Cool climate terroir
With their cool climate situation at Constantia Glen, this ephemeral perfume is protected and remains intact and
resolute for inclusion into the overall makeup of the wine during fermentation. This cool climate scenario is
augmented by including an overnight stint in a cold room before processing and sorting the following day.
Cool climate wine growing areas offer a distinct diurnal difference in temperatures. This divergence between
day and night temperatures ensures wonderful colour saturation in the grapes that in turn leads to wines that are
deeply coloured and viscous in nature. All of these factors are tempered and kept in check by the retention of
natural grape acid. This means that Constantia Glen wines are fresh and crisp and show resilience to ageing.
The wines offer much complexity and positive development of tertiary flavours and aromas over time
and can comfortably age for in excess of 10 years.
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Sun kissed vineyards
Constantia Glen occupies an enviable position in the Constantia viticultural landscape.
The vineyards are positioned on the mid-slope at the junction between Constantiaberg and
the extraordinary Table Mountain. This particular depression in the landscape is called
Constantia Nek and it offers an incredible bonus to the vineyards planted at Constantia Glen.
When the summer sun sets in the west the Constantiaberg casts its omnipresent shadow over the
fertile Constantia Valley. The Nek offers the only respite to the otherwise obscured sun and allows for additional
sunlight onto the vineyards of Constantia Glen. This extra sunlight allows for the successful and consistent ripening
of classic red grape varieties in a cool climate and determines the planting ratio in favour of red varieties.
Constantia Glen has 30% of the farm planted to Sauvignon blanc and Semillon and
the rest to the five classic Bordeaux varieties.
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Sauvignon Blancs that go the distance
Sauvignon blanc from cool climates offers depth of flavour and a tight mineral streak that is hard to match.
These characteristics often show as leanness in youth but after a year or two in the bottle the pedigree
always shows with the development of heady aromatics and great texture.
