Constantia is home to the oldest wine farm in South Africa. In 1685 Simon van der Stel was awarded the grant of 763 hectares of land at the foot of Table Mountain by A. J. Besoeken. To show his appreciation, Van Der Stel named the area Constantia, after Constanza, the daughter of Besoeken. As a lover of good wine, Simon van der Stel established the Groot Constantia wine farm. He requested that the VOC invite any French refugees that fled to Holland, with wine making experience, to Cape Town. Free passage was provided and by 1692 approximately 200 French Huguenots were farming in and around Cape Town.
Today, it is difficult to describe Constantia. It is beautiful, historic and has so much to offer any visitor that you are sure to return time and again. It is a beautiful, tranquil suburb and an extremely sought after place to live.