CONSTANTIA WINE VALLEY // The Last Word

CONSTANTIA WINE VALLEY, Cape Town, South Africa

The Constantia Wine Valley Route is a road less traveled for many travelers.  Most tourists tend to turn towards the Stellenbosch, Franshhoek and Paarl regions.  This is a mistake.  Dating back to 1685, the Constantia wine valley is the original home of South African wine farms. The first wine farm was named after the Dutch-East India Company ship, “Constantia”.  Today it’s known as the Groot Constantia wine farm and is divided into several smaller farms.  Eight wine farms constitute “The Constantia Wine Valley Route” and with proper planning you can see them all in one day!

© Constantia Valley

THE LAST WORD: CONSTANTIA

Just ten minutes up the road from Bishopscourt lies a tranquil stretch of roads comprising the Constantia Wine Valley Route (Six Unforgettable Experiences).  I hit the road, driving past mountain landscapes against blue skies.  I was driving through a postcard, which reminds me, I need to find a postbox to mail a few off.

Even with a well-marked sign, it’s easy to drive past the entrance to The Last Word: Constantia.   The vibe here is less homey and more luxury.  The entryway greets you with three mini-waterfalls and a smiling concierge. At nine, this hotel has almost twice as many rooms as Bishopscourt, but still manages to maintain the personal feel.  The level of service, style, and detail I experienced at The Last Word: Bishopscourt seems to carry across to the property in Constantia.

Dining Room, faces the garden.

High Tea spread at The Last Word: Constantia

They are setting up for their high tea service as I’m led to my room. This time I have a pool suite and separated lounge area (complete with a decanter of sherry and cheese plate waiting for me).  I think it’s going to be hard to leave my room, my private and tranquil patio and dipping pool, but eventually I get curious about the well-landscaped gardens within the property.  The Last Word is a family run business and the garden is planned and managed by a family friend. Flowers have a huge presence.

Garden by the pool

Fresh lily bouquet in my room

Again, the attention to detail throughout the hotel is impressive.

Sam, the manager on duty whips up a double-decker sandwich to tide me over until dinner.  I can either dine in-house or at the neighboring Peddlars on the Bend, one of the most well-known establishments in Constantia.

I spend my first afternoon unwinding next to my private pool.  Relaxing is just as important as any activity you do while traveling.  It’s not often enough that we take the time out to just BE somewhere. This is the perfect place to do this, so I soak it up.

The best amenity with the Pool Suite

When I start baking, I go inside and book a sunset special ticket (which includes dinner) on the Table Mountain Cable Car. Booking ahead for the cable car is essential, and if you find yourself in good weather (read: clear skies and low winds) drop everything and head for the mountain because it is often closed due to unsuitable weather. Your ticket is good for 10 days and refundable less R10 in case you are one of the unlucky ones who never gets a weather break.  


This was my fate for the night...although there are worse things than being "stuck" in a fabulous hotel room for the night.