Matthew Day is clearly at home on a farm. At the wheel of a drop-top safari vehicle Klein Constantia’s winemaker is taking me on a slow drive around the estate.
The ascents gradually increasing, the views of the Constantia Valley and False Bay unrolling in summer splendour before us. We drive past snuffling pigs and errant chickens. Klein Constantia is said to be one of the most beautiful vineyards in the world, it’s easy to see why, the natural beauty of the estate has been left unencumbered, with vines bordered by fynbos and rocky mountain deposits, and the occasional copse of trees.
Over half the property has been planted to sauvignon blanc, with more blocks being planned for the future. While the estate is well-known for famed sweet wine, Vin de Constance, sauvignon is its modern story.
There are seven sauvignons in the range. Says Day: “They have been made with the intention of learning from our terroir, to study all the different variables of altitudes, aspects and soils.”
Before landing here in the Cape, Day was already used to the pastoral life. He grew up on a farm in a small town in the south of Johannesburg.
“There was a bit of everything,” shares Day. “We had chickens, turkeys, sheep, horses, cows and vegetables with the idea that whatever we needed would come from the farm. “I loved having fresh, warm milk every morning for breakfast as well as newly laid eggs. My parents still live there today and are now completely off the grid.”
His grandfather also had a farm up the road from the family. “He basically taught me how to drive a tractor before I could ride a bike. This was where my passion for farming was instilled. He also had a charcoal factory, which is how I became interested in chemistry.”
His love of farming and chemistry neatly led him into a life of a winemaker. “I really wanted to find a way to put my scientific background into farming so winemaking made complete sense.”