The key takeaway: Vin de Constance, a sweet South African wine produced since 1685, was Napoleon's daily comfort in exile on St. Helena. Its worldwide reputation, acquired in the 18th century, is based on a unique balance of sugar and acidity, without botrytis . A true wine monument, it continues to win prestigious awards . To discover this historic nectar, explore the Grand Constance .

Did you know that Napoleon's exile on Saint Helena had a sweet taste? Vin de Constance, this South African nectar, was much more than a simple comfort for the fallen emperor: it embodies a link between history, prestige, and winemaking expertise . Made from the Muscat de Frontignan grape variety, this sweet white wine from the Groot Constantia estate has survived the centuries. Commissioned by Napoleon via Joseph Luson, it was even mentioned in his final moments. Once acclaimed by European courts, this nectar combines sweet richness and freshness, proving that its myth endures well beyond history.

1. Napoleon and the wine of Constance
2. Story of a legend
3. A literary and cultural heritage
4. Production and valorization
5. Other historical figures
6. Constance wine, a South African wine treasure with a global destiny
7. Napoleon and the Wine of Constance: Comfort for an Emperor in Exile
8. What is Constance wine? Characteristics and production method
9. The Renaissance and Legacy of Napoleon's Wine Today
10. Constance wine and Napoleon in brief

Constance Wine: The Story of the South African Nectar That Won Napoleon Over

What's the connection between an exiled emperor and a South African wine? Constance Napoleon wine has a rich, three-century history, blending diplomacy, exile, and a passion for wine. Discover why this sweet white wine from South Africa has become a legend through the centuries .

Napoleon and the wine of Constance

Comfort in exile

On the island of Saint Helena, Napoleon found solace in this nectar. The emperor regularly tasted Grand Constance, a sweet white wine produced in Groot Constantia. With French wines banned, this South African wine became his primary choice .

Wine distribution

Joseph Luson, a representative of the East India Company, ensured the supply. This trade intensified after his marriage to Catharina Maria Cloete in 1817, strengthening the ties between the winery and Napoleon's exile .

Story of a legend

Birth of a tradition

Founded over 330 years ago, Groot Constantia pioneered the South African wine industry . Muscat vines, native to the Mediterranean, produced this renowned sweet white wine as early as the 18th century.

A favorite wine of kings

According to Hugh Johnson, Vin de Constance even surpassed the wines of Yquem, Tokay, and Madeira. European courts cherished it, preferring it to the great vintages of the time.

A literary and cultural heritage

Mentions in literature

This nectar has spanned the ages, appearing in major works such as Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Charles Dickens' The Mystery of Edwin Drood , a symbol of comfort and luxury .

Archaeological discoveries

In 2004, a fragment of an 18th-century bottle was discovered in the United States. This discovery testifies to the early export of this Constance Napoleon wine to the colonies.

Production and valorization

Cultivation process

Muscat grapes are harvested late to concentrate their sugar. This ancestral process, combined with barrel aging, creates the unique character of this sweet white wine .

Modern recognitions

The Grand Constance has won multiple awards. The 2013 vintage received 98/100 at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. Today, Klein Constantia continues this prestigious tradition .

Other historical figures

Famous figures who follow

Besides Napoleon, this wine charmed personalities such as Horatio Nelson, who offered it to his guests, and members of the British aristocracy in the 19th century.

Constance wine, a South African wine treasure with a global destiny

The origins of the Constantia estate

In 1685, Simon van der Stel, Dutch governor of the Cape, identified an ideal terroir for vines, between the sunny slopes of Table Mountain and the ocean breezes. One of the oldest vineyards of South African wines , Groot Constantia quickly became the jewel of the colony thanks to its granite soil, temperate climate and the Muscat de Frontignan grape variety. The first harvests, from 1709, showed early commercial potential with 5,630 liters produced, despite the agricultural challenges of the time. After his death in 1712, the estate was divided, giving rise to Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia, two pillars of South African viticulture .

The golden age of a wine prized by European courts

Constance wine was so renowned that it was preferred to the greatest sweet wines of Europe by the royal courts, becoming a true symbol of prestige and refinement.

In the 18th century, the "Constantia Wyn" established itself as a diplomatic treasure.

• Frederick the Great , King of Prussia
• Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, at the court of France
• George Washington, first president of the United States
• Jane Austen, who mentions it in "Sense and Sensibility"
• Charles Dickens and Baudelaire , who refer to it in their writings

Its fame is due to its exceptional sensory profile: aromas of peach, candied citrus, and rose, balanced by a lively acidity despite its 165 grams of sugar per liter. Aged for three years in oak barrels, this sweet wine embodies an artisanal tradition combining terroir and know-how, spanning the ages despite challenges such as powdery mildew (1859) and phylloxera (1866). Napoleon, supplied by Joseph Luson during his exile on Saint Helena, regularly requested it, according to documented accounts.

Napoleon and the Wine of Constance: Comfort for an Emperor in Exile

An exile softened by the nectar of Constantia

Forced into exile on the island of Saint Helena after Waterloo, Napoleon Bonaparte found unexpected solace in Constance wine . This sweet South African white, produced from Muscat grapes, replaced French wines banned by the British blockade. Although sober, the emperor enjoyed sipping it, a ritual of reflection and melancholy.

The Grand Constance, made from 100% Muscat de Frontignan, harvested very ripe and free of botrytis, offered a rounded flavor blending notes of white peach and rosehip. This richness contrasted with the austerity of Longwood House, becoming a constant presence in its daily life. This choice, although forced, reveals a little-known part of Napoleonic history .

Organization of deliveries to Saint Helena

To meet this demand, Joseph Luson, an agent for the English East India Company, orchestrated deliveries from Cape Town. As the sole buyer of the Cloete family's stocks, owners of the Groot Constantia estate, he ensured distribution to the entire exiled French community. Married to Catharina Maria Cloete in 1817, Luson strengthened his ties with the vineyard, ensuring a regular supply .

These trades attest to an unlikely connection between a fallen tyrant and a colonial vineyard. The Cloete winery, the cradle of this nectar, became an essential link in the daily life of a man who had claimed to dominate Europe. Each delivery embodied a fragile normality in the heart of a stifling captivity .

The Legend of the Last Will

Legend has it that in his final moments, the fallen Emperor refused all food, but accepted a glass of his favorite wine, Grand Constance, as a final comfort.

This anecdote, although not scientifically confirmed, symbolizes Napoleon's attachment to this beverage. More than a simple pleasure, the wine of Constance embodied the link with a bygone world, a sensory journey to a glorious past. On an island watched over by its enemies, this nectar became a symbol of resilience .

Beyond Napoleon, this wine has spanned the centuries, seducing Jane Austen who mentioned it in Sense and Sensibility , Charles Baudelaire and even Bismarck. Even its production was heroic: after a century of oblivion due to phylloxera, the Klein Constantia estate rehabilitated it in 1986 thanks to the formula of Professor Chris Orffer, obtaining worldwide awards .

What is Constance wine? Characteristics and production method

The profile of a unique sweet white wine

Vin de Constance is a sweet white wine produced in South Africa with the Muscat de Frontignan grape variety. Its light gold color evolves into amber hues with age, revealing exceptional aging potential. The nose offers aromas of candied apricot, white peach, and citrus, enhanced by floral notes such as orange blossom or jasmine. On the palate, it combines sweet richness (up to 220 g/l of residual sugar) with lively acidity, creating a fresh and mineral balance . Unlike Sauternes, it does not use noble rot, which gives it a unique style. Its long, spicy finish is a reminder of its ability to age over several decades. Recent vintages like the 2021 present touches of orange marmalade and rose water, reinforcing its aromatic complexity.

The winemaking method: ancestral know-how

The production of Constance wine combines ancient traditions and modern techniques . It follows a demanding process:

• Late Harvest: The grapes remain on the vines to concentrate the sugars, with a three-pass selection for bunches of varying ripeness. This natural raisining, favored by the cool climate of the Constantia Valley, allows exceptional sugar levels to be achieved.
• Rigorous hand sorting : Each berry is inspected to retain only the perfect fruits, a legacy of 18th-century methods. This extreme care ensures the quality of the batches used for blending.
• Slow fermentation: Natural yeasts transform the sugars over several months without adding alcohol, stopping at 14-15% alcohol. This approach preserves the delicate aromas of the grape variety while maintaining the sweet structure.
• Extended aging : The wine rests for 3 to 4 years in French and Hungarian oak barrels, as well as in acacia tuns. This maturation develops spicy notes of nutmeg and vanilla, while refining its silky texture. The combination of new and used wood brings complexity and balance.

This expertise, passed down since the 17th century, is combined with innovations such as thermal control of barrels. To discover this nectar, the modern Vin de Constance embodies this tradition while winning accolades, including Platinum at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards for its 2013 vintage.

The Renaissance and Legacy of Napoleon's Wine Today

From Decline to Resurrection

At the end of the 19th century, Constance wine was on the verge of extinction. The phylloxera crisis, a devastating vine parasite, ravaged the Muscat vines of the Constantia region. Local political conflicts and international competition hastened its oblivion. However, a turning point occurred in the 1980s: the Klein Constantia estate revived the historic recipe. Muscat de Frontignan grape varieties, preserved in old vineyards, made it possible to recreate this nectar. This revival marked a return to grandeur, breathing new life into this heritage treasure.

The emblematic estates: Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia

Groot Constantia embodies the continuity of history. Founded in 1685, this estate produces "Grand Constance," a direct heir to the wine given to Napoleon. The Cloete winery, still active, preserves the secrets of a centuries-old winemaking process. Meanwhile, Klein Constantia revived the legend in 1986. Under the leadership of Dougie Jooste, century-old vines were replanted. Today, the two estates vie for prestige: Klein Constantia's "Vin de Constance" and Groot Constantia's "Grand Constance" have garnered global accolades, including gold medals and rankings among the world's finest Muscats .

Wine lovers can explore the wines of the Groot Constantia estate , witnesses to an unbroken tradition. These wines combine ancestral know-how with bold modernity, perpetuating the aura of a beverage once appreciated by Napoleon, Frederick the Great and Bismarck. The combination of high residual sugar (173 g/l) and lively acidity guarantees their exceptional aging capacity , recalling that this nectar was once a favorite of the European courts.

Constance wine and Napoleon in brief

Vin de Constance, a sweet white wine from South Africa, has been produced from Muscat since 1685. Celebrated in the 18th century, it seduced Napoleon in exile on Saint Helena (1815-1821), as well as Frederick the Great and Queen Victoria.

Despite the embargo on French wines after 1815, Napoleon consumed it daily, appreciated for its balance. Imported via the Cape by Joseph Luson, this vintage became a prestigious alternative .

After a decline in the 19th century due to phylloxera and unfavourable taxes, the Klein Constantia and Groot Constantia estates revived its production in the 1980s . This wine embodies a living heritage.

What to remember

Discover the Grand Constance , a direct heir to Napoleon's vintage .

Constance wine embodies an oenological heritage born 330 years ago in Groot Constantia. Adored by Napoleon, resurrected by Klein Constantia, this award-winning treasure links history and excellence . To savor it, Grand Constance embodies this legend .