Spice Route
South Africa
About
The new age of the Swartland commenced in 1997 when Charles Back stumbled across an old Tobacco farm, Klein Amoskuil. Bewildered by the quality of grapes in a region better known for its wheat and rolling fynbos hills, the potential was obvious, so Charles set forth to acquire the farm and study its soils and extreme climate. Hence Spice Route Winery was born.
Certifications
Winemaker
Charl du Plessis
Born and raised in Mossel Bay in South Africa, Charl moved down to the Cape and attended Elsenburg Agriculture College in Stellenbosch from 1989 to 1991. He started work at Boland Cellar in 1992. At the end of 1999, Charl moved to a brand new cellar in Tulbagh – Rijk’s Private Cellar. Moving to Rijk’s after eight years at a big co-operative, was quite an adjustment, but was an exciting and dramatic change. After two vintages, Charl was approached by Spice Route winery owner Charles Back, who had had a keen eye on Charl for a while. He offered him the winemaker position at Spice Route, and from his first day he has never looked back.
