About The Winelands welcomes Cape Wine Master and Winemaker at Groot Constantia, Boela Gerber. Boela joined Groot Constantia as winemaker in 2001. Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine farm (335 years old in 2020) is also one of the oldest brands in the world which has reached iconic status. Listen to the chat with Boela below:-
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About Boela Gerber
Boela obtained his degree (BSc Viticulture & Oenology) at Stellenbosch University in 1995. His postgraduate grooming began at Stellenzicht under the mentorship of André van Rensburg and after two years, Van Rensburg resigned, leaving Gerber as cellar master for the 1998 harvest. Thereafter he spent two years at Rickety Bridge as winemaker/vineyard manager, during which he gained invaluable hands on experience in the vineyard.
In 2002 he won the Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year Award. He has also worked harvests at the following international wineries:
- Chateau Angelus in St Emilion, France
- Chateau Merlet, Bordeaux, France
- Villa Palazzo in Tuscany, Italy
- Bodega Baigorri in Rioja, Spain
- Chateau de Sours, Bordeaux, France
- Peay Vineards , California, USA
Boela Gerber graduated from the Cape Wine Academy (CWA) as Cape Wine Master (CWM) during lockdown 2020. This was announced at the virtual AGM of the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM) on Saturday, 30 May, bringing the number of CWMs to attain this elite self-study qualification in the 41-year history of the CWA to 106.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia’s rich history shows how one man’s love of wine established South Africa’s first wine farm more than 330 years ago and how those 891 morgen of land formed the origins of the commercial South African wine industry, with Emperors and Kings such as Frederick the Great of Prussia and Louis Phillipe (King of the French) buying ‘Constantia Wyn’ at auctions across Europe.
South Africa’s oldest wine became so renowned it appears in Jane Austen’s novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’ as a cure for a broken heart and is drunk to lift a character’s spirit in ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ by Charles Dickens. Perhaps it even soothed Napoleon as it was served during his exile on the island of Saint Helena.
GROOT CONSTANTIA, the Cradle of Winemaking in the Cape
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The Wines
Groot Constantia Wine Estate produces an award-winning wine to please every palate. Click to buy
Enjoy a fresh and cheerful Rosé or a beautifully complex Chardonnay. Discover a bold Shiraz or our seductive Grand Constance. With three wine-tasting venues on the estate, you can find your favourite in surroundings that suit your style.
Visit Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia, a beautiful historic winery, is situated 20 minutes from the Cape Town CBD and one of Cape Town’s Big 7 tourist attractions, a must visit for the whole family. the red double decker City Sightseeing buses are running to the Estate again. The #RedBus is the perfect way to arrive at Groot Constantia. Activities offered on the Visitors Route below:
- Explore the original Cape Dutch Manor House
- Visit the famed Cloete Cellar: the birthplace of Grand Constance
- Wine tasting
- See the wine museum and cultural history museum
- Be inspired by South African Art
- Enjoy world-class cuisine
- Experience chocolate & wine pairing
- Free audio walking tours of the vineyards and production cellar
KICKSTART YOUR 2020/2021 SUMMER SEASON
