Fairview Vineyards

Peacocks scatter as you drive up to Fairview past the famous goat tower, which delights adults and children alike. Fairview is nestled into the side of Paarl mountain, with an uninterrupted view of Table Mountain.

The original land grant for this farm was issued by Simon Van Der Stel in 1693. In 1938, Charles Back's grandfather purchased Fairview. Charles Back was recognized as South African Wine Maker of the year in the 1996 John Platter wine guide.

The Fairview Shiraz 1993 won one of the three South African gold medals at the 1996 International Wine Challenge. The 1994 Merlot won a gold at the 1997 World Wine Championships and the 1996 Pinot Gris was awarded a Silver medal.

Noble cultivars grown on this estate include Cabernet, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon, Malbec and Chenin.

Pinotage carries four Fairview wines:

Fairview comprises two farms, one is situated near Paarl and other near Malmesbury. There are a total 400 hectares of vine under the control of Charles Back. Over 70% of their vineyards are planted with red cultivars.

The soil at the Paarl farm is mainly decomposed granite and sand, whilst the Malmesbury vines are planted in deep loam.

The Malmesbury farm is totally dry farmed, with all vines being head pruned - average age of vines, over 20 years. Quality Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are grown there.

In Paarl the following red cultivars are grown - Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Zinfandel, Cinsault, Mouvedre; the white cultivars - Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Weisser Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Vigioner.

Their cellar is at the Paarl farm and production capacity is over a million liters.

White wine grapes are whole bunch pressed, before being fermented at low temperatures in either oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. Sulphur levels are kept low, using temperature to inhibit malolactic fermentation.

Red wine grapes are brought to the cellar at optimal ripeness, destalked but not crushed before being pumped to the fermenters. Yeasts are selected to compliment the cultivar and grapes ferment for 4 to 7 days. Pumpover includes emptying the juice from the fermenters into another tank and then pumping back over the whole cap. After a period of maceration on the skins, the wine is pressed, settled, racked and put into oak barrels where it will spend between 12 and 18 months.

All Fairview Wines are bottled on the Estate.