A new destination has been launched in the Cape winelands lending a completely unique experience to the wine and hospitality industry. South African winemaker and entrepreneur, Charles Back, has opened his new Spice Route farm where a sensory journey awaits those with a love of authenticity and craftsmanship.

“The vision for Spice Route is to offer local and international tourists a selection of hand-picked artisanal producers to share their knowledge, who put as much thought, skill and passion into their products as the Spice Route Winemaker, Charl du Plessis, does when crafting his wines,” says Back, whose Fairview farm is already one of the most popular wine destinations in South Africa. “Tourism, not agriculture, is the future for the Western Cape. You can’t get away with wine tastings only anymore, you have to create an overall experience for visitors.” 

Charles Back’s Spice Route farm in Paarl offers:

Spice Route Tasting Room
Renowned for its hand-crafted wines from the Swartland region, with exotic names such as Chakalaka and Malabar, Spice Route Wines can be enjoyed in a rustic underground tasting room or outside under the pergola. The relaxed and informal atmosphere, as well as the tranquil surroundings, creates the perfect setting for a wine tasting experience.

Spice Route Restaurant
The Spice Route Restaurant takes the visitor on a culinary journey, exploring the fusion of traditional South African cooking with the various influences of cooking cultures along the Spice Route, all the way from Europe to the East and the places that once formed the empire of the Dutch East India Company. Each dish is carefully crafted and prepared to complement the award-winning Spice Route wines. 

The Spice Route Restaurant is situated so that the visitor can admire arguably the best view in Paarl, and on a clear day will see all the way to Table Mountain.

DV Artisan Chocolate, Roastery and Espresso Bar
Resident chocolate maker, DV Artisan Chocolate is hand crafted by the De Villiers family and is one of few ‘Bean to Bar’ micro batch chocolate makers in the world and available for tasting on the farm.

Cape Brewing Company
The Cape Brewery Company, also known as CBC, produces and offers a wide range of beers using only the finest ingredients, state of the art equipment and is made by the highly skilled Brewmaster, Wolfgang Koedel. Beer lovers can view and follow the entire beer production process and thereafter taste it either on tap or bottled at the tasting stations.

Barley & Biltong
The Barley & Biltong Emporium is a new and truly unique offering to South Africa. With one of the best views across the winelands and distant Table Mountain, The Barley & Biltong is a beer garden with a local twist. Beer and biltong lovers can look forward to tasting a selection of beer with Kudu, Beef and Springbok biltong carefully selected to complement the craft beer.

Red Hot Glass
Red Hot Glass is one of very few Venetian-style Molten glass blowing studios in South Africa. Each piece is unique, from exquisite hand-blown perfume bottles to elegant vases and wonderful abstract statues. Red Hot Glass graces some of the top hotels and galleries in the world.

Wilderer Distillery & La Grapperia Restaurant
Master Distiller, Helmut Wilderer uses the most advanced equipment available, which allows them to produce some of the best Grappa and Eaux de Vie in South Africa.  Guests have the opportunity to view the distillation process and sample some of the products.

La Grapperia Restaurant offers a selection of wood- fired, thin base pizzas, flammkuchen and tapas with a glass of Grappa or Eaux de Vie, situated right next-door to the distillery.

Only 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Cape Town and 800m from Charles Back’s Fairview Wine and Cheese, Spice Route is the perfect day-trip destination offering a collection of artisanal products and a voyage like no other Cape Winelands experience.