Steenberg, originally known as Swaaneweide (the feeding place of swans), is located about twenty minutes from the Cape Town city centre. In 1682 Catharina Michelse, also known as The Widow Ras (Michelse was the name of her fifth husband) asked Simon van der Stel for a portion of ground at the foot of the Ou Kaapse Weg and he agreed to lease twenty-five morgen to her. After he became the owner of Groot Constantia in 1685, she asked him for a legal title deed and a mandate was granted to her in 1688 to ‘cultivate, to plough and to sow and also to possess the farm below the stone mountain.’
This historic mountainside winery is now owned by Graham Beck. Situated at the southernmost point of the Constantia Wine Route, vineyards have the advantage of being open to cooling breezes from nearby False Bay. Lean decomposed granite soils, with water retention ability contribute to the minerality of the wines.
The 2017 Cuvée, the Steenberg Lady R, is made in the traditional French method of second fermentation in the bottle and is designated Méthode Cap Classique.
Pinot Noir (70%); Chardonnay (30%).