Wine jewels in the making from Constantia Glen harvest 2017

Excitement is running high at Constantia Glen as the winemaking team takes on the 2017 harvest season. This year promises some thrilling twists with the first clay amphora wines to be made from their sun kissed grapes grown on the rolling vineyards just below Constantia Nek.

With the arrival of Constantia Glen’s first clay amphorae and the incredible flavour concentration of this season’s optimally ripe grapes, the team at Constantia Glen eagerly awaits the wine treasures to reveal themselves after this year’s harvest season.

The two locally crafted clay amphorae, capturing over 6 000 years of winemaking history, will be used to ferment and mature some Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, to form part of the estate’s Bordeaux-style white blend, the Constantia Glen TWO 2017. These large clay vessels, used in the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, are hand-shaped from the earth, providing the winemaking team a fresh approach to fermentation in the cellar.

“The benefit of clay amphora is that it is oxidative, allowing oxygen ingress much like a wooden barrel, but without imparting any oak lactones or tannins. This completely neutral fermentation vessel should ultimately result in texture and richness in the wine whilst completely respecting the fruit,” explains Winemaker Justin van Wyk.

Cradled and protected by the slopes of the Constantiaberg, the flavour intensity of the fruit is shaped by a slow, cool ripening process. The vines are all dryland farmed as a result of the deep, rich granite and sandstone soils with a clay base that retains moisture. As a result, the grapes are a true reflection of the quintessential Constantia Glen terroir.

Justin Van Wyk, winemaker at Constantia Glen

“The grapes this year are some of the most concentrated, flavourful and tasty that I have experienced in my time at Constantia Glen, so I am very excited about what the 2017 vintage has in store for us,” says Van Wyk.

Known for exceptional cool climate Bordeaux-style red and white wines, Constantia Glen is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10h00 until 17h00 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10h00 until 20h00. Look out for the Constantia Glen signs towards the top of Constantia Main Road. Call 021-7955639, e-mail reservations@constantiaglen.com, visit www.constantiaglen.com, www.facebook.com/ConstantiaGlen or follow @ConstantiaGlen on Twitter and Instagram. The GPS co-ordinates are S 34º 0’39.6” E 18º 24’30.6”.