GREEN Point Stadium in Cape Town. Uruguay versus France. The stage is all set for the world’s biggest football event to kick off. There is no Zidane this time, but there will be Constantia. Constantia has been there from 1685.

Constantia is old. Constantia is one of the finest wines in the world. And Constantia is another reason to visit South Africa, apart from nail-biting last minute penalty shootouts.

South African wine has a history that goes back to 1659. Production is concentrated around Cape Town, with main vineyard and production centres at Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester.

On 2 February 1659 the founder of Cape Town, Jan van Riebeeck, a Dutch surgeon, produced the first wine recorded in South Africa. He was given the job of overseeing the place and to plant vineyards for wines and grapes that could be used to ward off scurvy for sailors who

were on their voyage on the spice route.

Roughly a quarter of a century later, the Constantia estate was established in a valley facing False Bay by the Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel. His Vin de Constance soon acquired a good reputation but it was another gentleman Hendrik Cloete, who was successful in making the name really famous, with an unfortified wine made from a blend of mostly Muscat de Frontignan, Pontac, red and white Muscadel and a little Chenin Blanc.

Incidentally, it was a favourite of European kings and emperors, such as Frederick the Great and Napoleon who had it ordered from his exile on St Helena.

But even Constantia faced its share of setbacks. Exports had dried up by 1865 when William Ewart Gladstone, a British statesman signed a treaty with the French that reduced the preferential tariffs that benefited South African wine. Next year, an epidemic hit the country

that devastated the wine industry and vineyards. Things worsened further due to the boycott of South African products in protest of the country's controversial system of apartheid. So, it wasn't till the late 1990s that the South African wine industry began to experience a renaissance of sorts.

Thereafter, many producers in the country adopted new viticultural and winemaking techniques and the attendance of foreign winemakers helped focus the limelight on well known varieties such as, Shiraz, Caber-net Sauvignon and Chardo-nnay. By 2003, almost 70 per cent of the grapes har vested reach-ed the con sumer market as wine.

South Africa produces nearly four per cent of the world's wine and in 2006 it ranked se venth in overall vol ume production.

So, if in between swigs of South Afri ca’s famous beers, you want to have a taste of the countryside in the form of lovely wines, there are quite a few to choose from. First on the list is Blouberg, which takes its name from the famously blue-tinged mountains of the Cape. It is an easygoing wine that is best enjoyed on a cheery sun washed patio.

Then there is Leopard’s Leap Lookout Cape Mountain Red that goes best with grilled meat, which is the norm in South Africa. It combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Cinsault to produce a pliable and gentle spicy wine.

And if white is your wine of choice South Africa has almost the perfect example in a bottle of Fish Hoek Sauvignon Blanc. It has the right balance and will leave a bright aftertaste of gooseberry, kiwi, lime, herbs and honey on your tongue.

But in the process, just don’t forget to hoot for the best team. Better still, raise a toast for the players.