TRAVEL SOUTH AFRICA A STORY ABOUT A MAN HIS WINE, GOATS AND THE FRENCH SURRENDER

I’m cozy and warm in Cape Town, while its pouring rain outside. I have a nice glass of Goats do Roam in my hand. My mind wanders to Interschools, a long-standing tradition that happens every August in Paarl, where I grew up. It’s a big deal for school rugby fans, as two old rivals, Paarl Gymnasium and Paarl Boys’ High School, face each other on the field.

I’m looking forward to wearing my green and gold colours and cheering for Paarl Gymnasium, the high school I attended. It will be a joyous occasion to see old friends from near and far and to share our loyalty and passion for our schools, no matter how many years have passed. The day before the game, both schools have a big rally of students, parents and alumni in their halls, where they sing and chant to lift their spirits.

In honour of the class of 73 at Paarl Gymnasium and our 50th school reunion weekend, I want to tell you the story of one of my classmates, Charles Back II, who makes the wine I’m enjoying as I write this story.

This wine has a funny name that mocks a famous French wine called “Côtes du Rhône”. The French government tried to stop the wine from being sold in the USA in 1999, but they gave up after a lot of media attention. The Goats do Roam wine became very popular and is now the best-selling South African wine brand in the USA.

In 1693, a piece of land on the lower slopes of Paarl Mountain was given to Steven Verwey (who was probably one of the French Huguenots who escaped from Europe in 1688 because of religious persecution) by the leader of the Cape at that time – Simon van der Stel, who worked for the Dutch East India Company and helped to start some of the Cape’s first and best wine ‘estates’. Just six years later, in 1699, the first wine was made on the farm.

The farm’s success began in 1937 when Back’s grandfather, Charles Back I, bought the property from the Hugo family. Charles senior built a thriving export business and made some of South Africa’s best wines. When he died in 1955, he left a wine farm to each of his two sons, who also loved wine, worked hard and had a sense of adventure. Klein Babylonstoren went to Sydney… and became Backsberg (now run by Sydney’s son Michael Back). Fairview was Cyril’s share and today it’s owned by Charles Back II, my classmate. 

This Back vintner from the third generation has continued the Fairview family’s tradition of making wine in new ways. Charles the II, has also grown his late father Cyril’s dairy goat herd, which he started in 1980, into a cheese factory that makes farm cheeses that win international awards.

Today, in addition to wine and cheese tastings and sales, friendly Fairview welcomes visitors to The Goatshed, a Mediterranean-style indoor and outdoor al fresco eatery.

The original homestead, circa 1722, sold off in one of many earlier subdivisions, is back in the hands of Charles Back II and beautifully restored

A Few Team Players At Work

Fairview is one of the oldest and most innovative wineries in South Africa. Charles II, also acquired another wine estate called Spice Route Wines, which has vineyards in Stellenbosch, Swartland and Darling. These regions offer a variety of climates and soils for his wines. Charles has moved away from the traditional Bordeaux red varieties and embraced those from the South of France, which he believes are more suited to the Cape’s terroirs.

Fairview Wine Estate has 125 hectares of vines, while Spice Route Wines has a similar size in the Swartland area, which is warmer and drier. Fairview was established by French Huguenot Steven Verwey at the turn of the 17th century and has since become one of the most successful and enduring wineries in the Cape under Charles II, guidance.

Here is a link to Fairview Wine Estate’s website and here is a link to Spice Route Wines’ website.

Go Paarl Gymnasium!