Constantia Glen unveils stylish upgrade and chic new wine bar
The Constantia Glen tasting room, set amidst sunkissed vineyards
with magnificent mountain views, has been transformed into a stylish fusion of
European and Cape design by
sought-after South African interior designer, Graham Viney.
Taking his cues from what already existed on the site, Viney has
converted the former stables and cow byre into light, eclectic spaces
featuring a chic contemporary wine bar.
Fresh design elements include Cape Georgian cellar doors with
their klompie brick surrounds, spaansriet ceilings
and a great cast iron pavilion created out of the juncture of three verandahs.
Arts and Crafts inspired chandeliers hark back to the stable origins, whilst
pale French oak and raffia lamps are enliven by splashes of vibrant earthy
oranges and animal prints interspersed with miniature washboard surfaced coffee
tables.
“The Arts and Crafts, Victorian and Cape Dutch idioms employed
all combine to make a wonderfully stylish, contemporary venue, with ravishing
vineyard and mountain views falling away to the north towards Kirstenbosch and
rising steeply to the south to the Constantiaberg,” says Viney.
The refurbishments also reflect the love of art and sensitivity
to the estate’s history by present owners, the Waibel family, whose collection
of pottery by Hymie Rabinowitz, who for years had his studio there, is
juxtaposed with rare vintage African cloths.
The new wine bar is open for wine tasting and purchases, whilst
visitors can enjoy charcuterie and cheese platters with their wines on wicker
chairs and tables on the wraparound verandah and enclosed Victorian Pavilion
overlooking lawned terraces and the beautiful vineyard surroundings. The new tasting
room also features a dining room for private functions.
Known above all for their cool climate Sauvignon Blancs and
Bordeaux-style reds, Constantia Glen is one of the jewels of the Constantia
Wine Valley, just 20 minutes from the Cape Town city centre.
Constantia Glen is open daily
from 10h00 till 17h00 on weekdays,
from 10h00 till 16h00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Look out
for the Constantia Glen signs towards the top of Constantia Main road.
Call 021 7956100, e-mail wine@constantiaglen.co.za or visit www.constantiaglen.com for further
information. The GPS co-ordinates are S 34º 0’39.6” E 18º 24’30.6”.
