Sip in style

WORDS Debbie Loots

With beach season fizzling out, wine farms beckon as new weekend haunts. With a chic update to their ancient stables and cowshed, and a sublime view to match, it is boutique wine estate Constantia Glen that has newly enchanted us.

Although complete with Cape Georgian cellar doors and spaansriet ceilings, it’s the glass-enclosed, cast iron pavilion, from where sipping on their signature Sauvignon Blancs and Bordeaux-style reds are perfectly paired with magnificent views across Constantiaberg, that really got us drooling!

The man responsible for this fabulous fusion of European and Cape design is interior expert Graham Viney. He has teamed arts and craft-inspired chandeliers with Victorian, Cape Dutch and contemporary furniture and fittings, creating a classic contemporary look while mindful of the farm’s heritage.

One of the oldest wine-producing areas in the Cape, the wine bar’s makeover not only shows the owners’ commitment to celebrate the farm’s history but also their love for art. They boast a great collection of pottery by Hyme Rabinowitz − his studio was on the farm for many years. By displaying it with a bright assortment of rare vintage African cloths, it gives things an earthy, ethnic edge.

But, it’s outside, underneath the pavilion, enjoying views to die for with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a cheese platter… Now that’s our new favourite place to chillax!

constantiaglen.com