Constantia (wine)

However, production of Constantia ceased in the late-nineteenth century following the devastation of South African vineyards in the phylloxera epidemic.

[1][2] In 1705, Naturalist François Valentyn called it "The coicest wine to be found at the Cape...so divine and enticing in taste.

[3] But it was Hendrik Cloete, who bought the homestead in 1778,[1][4] who really made Constantia famous, with an unfortified wine made from a blend of mostly Muscat de Frontignan (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains), Pontac, red and white Muscadel and a little Chenin Blanc.

It became a favorite of European kings and emperors, such as Frederick the Great, Queen Victoria, and Napoleon who had it ordered from his exile on St Helena.

[1] In 1861, however, the Gladstone government removed empire preferential tariffs, and as a result exports nearly dried up, and the golden era was brought to an end when the vineyards were decimated by phylloxera and powdery mildew,[1] In 1980 Duggie Jooste bought Klein Constantia, redeveloped the farm, and with the help of then winemaker Ross Gower & Professor Chris Orferr of Stellenbosch University created and began selling a new recreated version of the early Constantia wines made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.