Steenberg Tasting Room

Steenberg is the Cape's first farm, and its story begins not with a winemaker but with one of the most remarkable women in South African colonial history. In 1682, Catharina Michelse -- known as the Widow Ras -- petitioned Governor Simon van der Stel for a parcel of land at the foot of the Ou Kaapse Weg, below the stone mountain that would give the farm its name. He granted her a lease of 25 morgen, and in 1688 she received a formal mandate "to cultivate, to plough and to sow and also to possess the farm below the stone mountain."

Catharina's life reads like an adventure novel. She arrived at the Cape in 1662, married Hans Ras, and was widowed when he was killed in a lion attack. Her second husband was stabbed by a local tribesman. Her third was trampled to death by an elephant. Through it all, she farmed, and Steenberg endured. Today the estate honours her with its flagship Catharina red blend.

More than three centuries later, Steenberg remains one of the Constantia valley's most distinguished properties. The estate sits at the southern end of the valley, backed by the Steenberg mountain range and cooled by ocean breezes from nearby False Bay. This maritime microclimate is what makes Constantia one of the finest cool-climate wine regions in the southern hemisphere, and Steenberg's vineyards -- planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz -- thrive in these conditions.

Cellarmaster Elunda Basson, who joined Steenberg in 2021, brings a particular passion for Cap Classique and sparkling wine. She has earned numerous accolades including the Veritas Vertex Award. Under her stewardship, the estate produces wines across three tiers: the Classic range of approachable everyday wines, the Flagship range including the Catharina red blend and the rare Nebbiolo -- one of only a handful produced in the Cape -- and at the summit, the Magna Carta, a prestigious limited white blend crafted only in years of exceptional quality. The 2023 Magna Carta marked the return of this icon wine.

Steenberg is far more than a tasting room. The 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Peter Matkovich, winds through the vineyards. The boutique hotel offers luxury suites and villas. Bistro Sixteen82, named for the year of the farm's founding, serves contemporary bistro cuisine alongside estate wines. A full-service spa completes the offering.

Tastings take place on a terrace overlooking manicured lawns, water features and the vineyards beyond, with options ranging from the Classic tasting through to the Bubbly tasting featuring three sparkling wines. The estate is wheelchair accessible and open seven days a week. Steenberg is a place where 340 years of history meet modern luxury -- and where Catharina's tenacious spirit lives on in every bottle.