Charles Louis Back is the third-generation owner of Fairview, one of South Africa’s most renowned wine and cheese producers in Paarl, Western Cape. A proud old-boy of Paarl Gymnasium, known for producing both rugby greats and winemakers, Charles went on to complete his military service before studying wine technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch. After a practical year at Perdeberg, he officially joined his father, Cyril, at Fairview in 1978, taking full control of the farm in 1995.
From early on, Charles showed a flair for innovation and an instinct to challenge convention. He introduced Mediterranean grape varieties such as Viognier, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Petite Sirah to the Cape, opening new horizons for South African winemaking. In 2000, he launched Goats Do Roam, which quickly became the highest-selling South African wine brand in the United States, and expanded Fairview’s reach with the creation of sub-brands such as La Capra and Bloemcool.
Charles’ achievements have been widely recognised. In 1996, Wine Magazine South Africa named him the second most influential figure in the local wine industry, second only to Nelson Mandela. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious IWC Lifetime Achievement Award in London, and in 2017 he received both the 1659 Wine Industry Medal of Honour and the South African Farmer of the Year title.
Alongside wine, Charles also turned Fairview into the country’s leading producer of artisanal cheeses. Today, Fairview is South Africa’s largest producer of specialty cheeses, stocked in major retailers across the country and closely partnered with Woolworths. Recently, the farm also walked away with the most awards at the SA Dairy Championships, a testament to the excellence of its cheesemaking legacy.
True to his entrepreneurial spirit, Charles was also instrumental in putting the Swartland on the map. After discovering an old tobacco farm in Malmesbury, he established Spice Route Wines, a premium brand that helped spark what became known as the Swartland Revolution. Together with the Spice Route Destination in Paarl, the brand remains a vibrant expression of exploration and innovation. More recently Charles started the Klein Amoskuil project, where organic and traditional Georgian style natural wines produced in qvevri – egg-shaped, unglazed earthenware vessels – in the Swartland.
But perhaps Charles’ greatest legacy lies in his social impact. Long before it was common practice, he advocated for better working conditions under Apartheid, and in 1997 founded the Fair Valley Workers’ Association, giving employees the opportunity to farm their own land. More recently, he shared ownership of Fairview with longstanding staff from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, further supported by Fairtrade accreditation.
Today, Charles Back remains one of the most decorated and respected figures in South African wine. Entrepreneur, innovator and community leader, he continues to honour his family’s heritage while pushing the boundaries of what Fairview can achieve, in the vineyard, in the cheesery, and in the community it calls home.