Fodor's Expert Review Backsberg
Editor's Note: This property is currently undergoing renovations.
Framed by the mountains of the Simonsberg, this lovely estate is run by the Back family, well known for producing great wines of good value. Backsberg has a comprehensive range of red and white wines and a very fine brandy made from Chenin Blanc. Among the wines to look out for are Backsberg Family Reserve White 2016 and the Backsberg Family Reserve Red 2015. It also produces five kosher wines that are palatable: an unwooded Chardonnay, a Merlot, a Kiddush, a sparking MCC Brut, and a Pinotage. The restaurant does a lamb spit every Sunday, so you can taste some excellent wines before digging in to a typical South African meal, or enjoy a picnic under the trees. The estate has guided cellar tours. Concerned about climate change and the environment, the Back family has put measures in place to reduce the farm's carbon footprint. They've done a good job, and Backsberg is the first carbon-neutral wine estate in South Africa. Here's hoping others will soon follow suit.
