Steenberg Vineyards

Steenberg Vineyards in Constantia, Cape Town was founded in 1682 by the determined andcourageous Catharina Ras.Catharina was originally from Germany and travelled to the Cape in 1662. Upon her arrival,she found that the Capewas no land of milk and honey. It was a fierce, wild place withrulings to match. This being no place for a lone widow of 22, Catharina immediately foundherself a husband.Over time and a series of mishaps and unfortunate incidents; Catharina settled with her 4thhusband in the area which would soon be known as Constantia. After her 4thhusband wastrampledto deathby an elephant and left her destitute; Catharinaapproached the soon-to-be Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, for a piece of land to lease and farm.In 1682 a lease was drawn up, a farm mapped out and Steenberg became the firstregistered farm in South Africa. In 1688, Catharina became the first female landowner inSouth Africa when she received the title deed to her farm. She called itSwaaneweide(Feeding Place of the Swans).Today, Steenberg Vineyards is home to terroir driven cool-climate wines, a contemporarytasting room, two restaurants and a luxurious hotel and spa.