TWO World Wars, the Boer wars, the Great Depression, the Spanish Flu, the Bubonic Plague, the British invasion of Cape Town, The Great Storm of 1865, the earthquake of 1809, the Rinderpest, several droughts, fires and pestilence, are just a few of the historic challenges that Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate, has witnessed and survived in its 335 years of existence. The Covid-19 pandemic that is now sweeping the globe causing mass illness, deaths and economic turmoil, is the latest crisis to present itself for inclusion in the history books, and to throw unprecedented challenges at our modern society.
“South Africans are feeling the brunt of national lockdown as we attempt to flatten the curve and protect our citizens from this virus. Wine farms have been hard hit as we have not been able to welcome visitors to our doors, nor sell our produce,” explains Jean Naudé, CEO of Groot Constantia.
“However, as a witness to the testimony of how wine estates can adapt and survive – indeed thrive – after periods of crisis, my message to those in the wine industry is to have patience and faith that we will overcome this current crisis and open our doors again to the public, resume wine sales, as well as retake our position in the world market as a leading wine producer.
“As the custodians of a business that is one of the oldest brands in the world that has endured so much in its centuries of trade, we at Groot Constantia want to say that South Africa will overcome this latest crisis, we will survive and endure – together.
“We are greatly looking forward to opening Groot Constantia’s doors to the public again and to welcoming visitors who can immerse themselves in the history of our beautiful estate, and enjoy our award winning wines and a delicious meal at one of the two restaurants,” says Naudé. “We also look forward to continuing to present the rich heritage of the South African wine industry to the world.”
For more information on Groot Constantia, click here, or connect via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GrootConstantia.
