BACKSBERG ESTATE

Paarl,  South Africa

A 300 acre estate dating back to 1916 brought to fame by Sydney Back twice voted South Africa's champion wine maker and most advanced thinker. Now under the able control of his son Michael who continues to make wines of exceptional value throughout the range. The wines incorporate the rich lively Paarl fruit with a judicious amount of barrel aging in both French and American oak barrels.

The history of the Backsberg Estate is a three generation success story. In a few decades the Back family have put this estate and it's wines firmly on the map of the Paarl winelands.

The achievement is all the more remarkable in that the estate had virtually no historical or viticultural tradition when it was bought by Charles Back, an immigrant from Lithuania, in 1916. In those days the farm was called 'Klein Babylonstoren' and the first wines were made and sold under that name. They were either supplied in barrels to KWV or exported to Britain. In 1938 Charles Back was joined by his son, Sydney. In post war years the two men worked hard to expand and improve the vineyards, and at the same time to adapt to new trends in winemaking technology.

In 1970, when the farm was registered as the Backsberg Estate Winery, the emphasis in it's production was firmly upon the making of quality red and white wines. The reward for this innovation and expertise has been an impressive range of wine awards. The climax of Sydney Back's career came in 1978 when he was voted champion winemaker of the year at the South African National Young Wine Show. This outstanding achievement was repeated in 1982.

Backsberg is the first Carbon Neutral winery in South Africa. We have won numerous awards in the last years. Old Mutual Trophy White wine of the show. Chardonnay 2003, Veritas double gold for KBS 2004, London International Gold for Shiraz 2003. Swiss International Gold for Viognier 2005.

The Backsberg vineyards now cover 180 ha predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, grown on the slopes of the Simonsberg in soils which are largely of decomposed granite. The cellars on the Estate are a model of their kind, and include a beautifully designed cave cellar where much of the estate's wines are stored for bottle maturation before sale.

Sydney Back's son, Michael, together with a team of young managers has taken over the responsibility for the running of the estate. The winemaking is now in the capable hands of Alicia Rechner.

See Backsberg wines we sell

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