Spice Route -- Chakalaka

Chakalaka: Zulu word taken to mean ‘all together’ 

The actual winery story began in 1997 when Charles Back stumbled upon land that he felt was perfectly suited to vineyards, and began studying its soils and climate, ultimately planting the vineyards we know today as Klein Amoskuil. Using the old tobacco farm building as today’s winery, they produce wines indicative of where they are from, with unparalleled views of Table Mountain in the distance. On a more historical view, this part of South Africa was indeed on the traditional “Spice Route” of the 15th century, when Europeans in search of the intoxicating spices of the East would travel all the way around the horn of Africa in search of something to spice up their life…

Grape: Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Tannat, Petite Sirah, Grenache

Region: Swartland, South Africa

Farming: Estate fruit, dry farmed, hand harvested

Winery: Destemmed/lightly crushed, fermented in open-top concrete, each varietal aged in French & American oak separately before final blending