Backsberg Estate

Had a good time here, top end wines impressed.

the wines are not that great….although there are some choices which is pretty good, and also pretty expensive…The buffet looked good, but we went to Glen Carlou instead…

So back i came, but this time for some tasting and not a vino varsity challenge again… the walk from the park was a pleasant one going past the gardens and watching people have picnics and lunches outside, the tasting venue was indeed pleasant and felt very open… great for a few people to go and have some fun.
heading onto the wines, well all the wines we tasted were of good quality and well priced, they were wines for a good hot Stellenbosch afternoon.. on the whites the Chardonnay did impress with the good wooded character, the pumphouse shiraz 2007 was the good red for the day..
will someday make a trip back here again.. or maybe for the next vino varsity challenge later this year…

well a fantastic venue for vino varsity challenge! yes we took home the prize… the wines were also great… maybe next year UCt will be a little more prepared… yet we will preapre even better! the whole event was organised very well and looking forward to next year!

Just arrived home from the 1st Vino varsity challenge which saw Stellies taking home gold against U.C.T. It was a fantastic day spent in the company of good friends and true wine legends.

got there on a very busy day and hence they couldn’t give us the attention we craved. a couple of ladies served us and they sounded like they we reading the tasting notes from the back of the bottles or from some wine review. Very scripted.
Huge selection of wines

We rocked up on a Saturday just before 8am. We had about 3 cups of coffee each to wake us up a bit and felt ready for the activities that awaited us. Simon Back introduced himself and welcomed every one to the farm. He also thanked everybody for getting up so early on a Saturday morning. He said that he appreciates the fact that we are so excited to harvest about 30 tons of grapes, while it’s going to be 40 in the shade by 10am. We got into the back of a truck and was transported to the vineyards.

The farm manager, Mr Clive Trent welcomed us on our arrival to the vineyards. I liked him. Straight forward, to the point and all the rest of the characteristics that a manager should have. He made the rules clear: Time is money and heat. The faster we work, the quicker we can get out of the boiling sun and enjoy our champagne breakfast. Champagne = mmmm…..otivation for me! I do blame the grape picking part for the fact that I can barely walk today. A work out in the vineyards definitely beats the gym. With the world in a recession, it probably an option to consider.

5 Crates later I was ready to enjoy that champagne.We took a seat under a tree and sipped on our champers. All of a sudden I was introduced to another member of the Backsberg family, a GIANT freaken spider! I managed to scream and jump 10 meters without spilling a drop. Steady hand I would say.

We enjoyed an amazing breakfast in the shade and there after some people attempted the grape stomping. Simon took us on a cellar tour and explained all the in’s and out’s that goes into making a bottle. It was good to know that the Backsberg family are also Tree Huggers. They have set up a small furniture factory on the farm, where the old barrels are turned into fine furniture. Great idea.

We had an absolutely fantastic day, that consisted out of fun, sun, exercise, action, great food and of cause Champers!

Situated in a beautiful setting and accompanied by piano music, Backsberg is a good estate to visit. The staff was friendly and attentive although it was quite busy.

They have a huge variety of wine to choose from, but nothing special. They had some interesting blends and some good brandy though. The tasting room itself felt a bit like a wine shop. I think you can find just about anything with “Backsberg” written on it there.

Hi Marc, thanks for coming round to the farm with your better half; glad you guys had a good time. Pity I was away this weekend, would have been cool to meet you. Be in touch SB.

I took my girlfriend to Backsberg this weekend and enjoyed it thoroughly, we had lunch (Lamb from the spit on Ciabatta, delicious) and did some tasting, walking away with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc ‘07 and a bottle of Pineau.

All-in-all a good time.

Simon, your range of wines are so big, that I will crawl out of there in search of my “special” wine! But I will definitly take up the challange in the near future!

Hi Madame De Wyn, thanks for popping by the farm. I am glad you enjoyed the setting, the pianist and that our team was attentive. I take your point on the tasting room being busy. The holiday season period is indeed our busy time and given the sort of signs of a sliding economy, I am only too happy to have a buzz in the tasting room. I am disappointed that you didn’t find anything ’special’ as you put, amongst our range of wines, but I guess we can’t win them all. Here’s wishing you a prosperous 2009. Kind regards, Simon Back P.S I like the website, keeps us producers on our toes!

It’s a bit like going to a wine shop.