Constantia is South Africa’s most famous wine region. Located just south of Cape Town, grape vines were planted in Constantia in the 17th century by a Dutch surgeon who was tasked by the Dutch East India Company to grow medicinal plants. Thirty years later the local governor claimed the valley that included the medicinal gardens and vineyards, and named the valley Constantia. The governor, Simon Van der Stel, ran his own 1,850-acre estate and winery, though at his death the estate was divided and sold. Today the valley includes nearly 1,200 acres of vineyards planted to Sauvignon Blanc, the most commonly grown grape. Another 2,000 vineyard acres are planted to various grapes including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Muscat. Constantia’s Mediterranean climate and granite-based soils makes for fertile vineyards, and despite the fact that the region is now essentially on the suburban edge of Cape Town, wineries continue to compete for territory. Since 2,000 several new wineries have established vineyards on the hillside slopes surrounding the valley.