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#Harvest2022
Week One: Done and Dusted!

Introducing the very first Broken Barrel White

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A Year in Review at Fairview : 2019

With less than two weeks to go, we’ve reached the final stretch of 2019! Normality just isn’t something that we do here and thus any given year on the farm will always be fill

Fairview Red Wine Report 2019

  The 2019 harvest has come to an end! After 41 years at Fairview I’ve grown accustomed to the victories and defeats that come with every harvest, but the 2019 harvest ha

2019 White Wine Harvest Report

As all our white varietals are nearing the end of their journey in the vineyards, we here at Fairview would like to share with you our thoughts on the 2019 White varietal harv

Introducing our Goatshed Farm Table

Following the success and great response of our Cheesy Saturdays in October, we’ve decided to kickstart summer by upgrading the concept to become our Goatshed Farm Table! From

Our Daily Bread | Wheat Harvest 2018

Usually around this time of year, we’re getting ready for our annual grape harvest. But this year, we’re also preparing for a different kind of harvest – our first wheat

That’s So Cheesy! | Fairview Cheesy Saturdays

At Fairview, we’re used to being surrounded by cheese on a daily basis. And we like to have a sense of humour about it. After all, life gets so serious, it’s gouda

From Pasture to Plate | Good Food Starts At The Source

What makes good food? The answer is as simple as you think: good food starts at the source. Whether it is wheat, wine or meat, a caring and sustainable approach to the land an

We’ve Earned Our Bragging Rights | Fairview Award Results

When it comes to awards within the wine world, there tend to be two schools of thought. The one is that awards are fantastic for the industry, assisting in uplifting and comme

Broken Barrel #3 | Lucky No. 7!

Fairview and the winemaking team are very proud to introduce the third release in the Broken Barrel range, and the next once-off wine in this limited and extremely popular ran

A Tour Around The Farm With Charles Back

As winter reached its peak during this past July, rains finally fell across the thirsty Western Province, providing some relief to our dams, land and people for the first time

Redefining the Meaning of Cool | Bloemcool New Vintages

This month, Fairview is proud to reveal the latest vintages of our most exclusive wine range, Bloemcool, with the newest releases including: Bergbok 2017 Groendruif 2017 Hou M

5 Benefits to Introducing Sheep to Your Land

Over the last few years, we have been carefully working on integrating our philosophy into real, tangible results. It is one thing to say we are sustainable, but it really is

The Perfect Pigeon Pair | Drie Papen Fontein White & Red Blend

In 2015, Charles Back and the Fairview team released the Drie Papen Fontein White blend. This white Bordeaux-style blend is primarily made of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon R

Goatshed’s Favourites | Interview with Chef SJ Nel

Over the years, the Goatshed has re-invented itself, with a new look and logo being rolled out in 2016. However, some things are too good to change, and that’s particula

Cooking with Fairview & Nina Timm

It’s deepest, darkest winter time. We get it. That means it’s cold, you don’t really want to go outside right? You’d rather stay cosy, inside, curled u

A Bloomin’ Cool Label | Bloemcool

In 2015, we released our now very popular Bloemcool range, which has been a best-seller via our Master Tasting Room and Wine Club ever since. The concept of Bloemcool is relat

Introducing Back’s Blend | A Fairview Exclusive

Recently, we released something extra special that Charles and the winemaking team have been working on. Since we started the Fairview Wine Club last year, Charles’s int

Winter Holidays | Kids Art Classes at Fairview!

As the cold winter days arrive in full force, there is one bright silver lining for most school children – the winter term break! While drinking hot chocolate and cosyin

Fairview & Fairtrade Takes You Places! | Jessica Hector

We are, and have always been, proud to be a part of the Fairtrade initiative. As a part of our continued efforts to stand up for the wellbeing of our Fairview family, we’

Our Friends at Daily Dish

In 2015, I met Diane de Villiers – a super smart and successful businesswoman with as much drive and passion for her business, that she reminded me of me! Her business &

Sustainable Growth | Fairview’s Efforts towards a Holistic Farm

At Fairview, we have a shared passion for ethical and authentic produce, prepared with love. To produce fantastic produce – whether it is our wine, cheese, vegetables or

Consistently On Top | Our Top 100 Wins!

The results for the coveted National Wine Challenge 2018 have been released, and we are very proud to announce another year’s winning streak, with the following accolade

Our Rocking White Rock

We know that not everyone is a wine lover. But surely everyone is a cheese lover? This autumn, we’re digging into our dessert cheese range, namely our White Rock with Dr

Our Mother Block | Viognier

The month of May calls for many celebrations – the cooler months bringing with it a relief in the hot weather that has spurred on one of the worst droughts the Cape has

Extraño Spanish Evening | Our Last Goatshed Dinner for 2018!

  There is a stranger (extraño in Spanish) in the Cape’s vineyards, named Tempranillo. Originally from Spain, Tempranillo now grows in local soils and produces grapes of

Brut MCC Old World Evening | Goatshed Dinner #7

As you should already know by now, Fairview and our winemakers, under the careful guidance of Charles Back, love to break with tradition. In fact, we’re all about doing

Caldera Greek Evening| Goatshed Dinner #6

  Off the coast of the Greek isle of Santorini lies a sea-drowned caldera, a vast crater left behind by one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history. Once a cradle of

Regional Revival Range Chef’s Journey | Goatshed Dinner #5

After re-imagining our annual Goatshed Dinners, the Regional Revival Range Chef’s Journey will most definitely be our flagship event of the season! Coming up on the 27th July

Drie Papen Fontein Curry Evening | Goatshed Dinner #4

  Situated on the tiny, uninhabited Dassen Island, stands a lone red and white striped lighthouse, attracting only the icy Atlantic winds that sweep by into the hilly slo

Fairview Shiraz and Free-Range Lamb Shank Evening | Goatshed Dinner #3

Okay, yes. So this year we have flipped the theme of our annual Goatshed Dinners on their head, with the introduction of a paired Regional Revival Range wine to each themed ev

Nurok Moroccan Evening | Goatshed Dinner #2

Our second Goatshed Dinner is coming up on the 8th June 2018: The Nurok Moroccan Evening! This year, we’ve decided to introduce a strong relationship between the food and wine

Art in the Afternoons This Easter Holiday!

With the April school holidays fast approaching, and a string of long weekends in the pipeline, we’re inviting all families to come and enjoy a full-day out at our Fairv

Fairview Wins Gold at the 2018 Wine Label Design Awards!

Last night, Fairview attended the 4th Annual Winemag Wine Label Design Awards at the Cavalli Wine and Stud Farm in Stellenbosch, and walked away with a Gold (Wine in a Series)

Homtini Italian Evening | Goatshed Dinner #1

As mentioned in our previous post here, our Goatshed Dinners are back this year with a revived twist! This year, we’ve decided to introduce a strong relationship between

How to Farm in a Drought

By Donald Mouton, our Farm Manager Unfortunately, our annual rainfall in 2017 was again way below par at 292mm. Luckily, our Suid-Agter Paarl irrigation scheme was very fortun

Our Goatshed Dinners Are Back – With A Revived Twist!

At Fairview, there is always a story to share behind everything, none more so than our wine and food. For this reason, this year our Goatshed Restaurant will host its popular

Harvest 2018 | A Cellar Tour with our Team

Last week, the winemakers invited our office team to come for a cellar tour and explore all the happenings during the busy time that is harvest. In South Africa, harvest happe

Our Fairview Tasting Room Recognized as a “Cape Town Necessity”

Recently, Flight Network included our tasting room in their ‘fool-proof’ guide to spending 72 hours in Cape Town! We’re so excited to find our Fairview Tasti

20 Years of Goats Do Roam!

2018 marks the 20th vintage of Goats Do Roam. Have you ever heard the tale of how the brand came to be? The idea of Goats do Roam first came about in the late 1990′s during a

Drink Wine, Eat Well and Be Merry! | Goatshed’s Harvest Lunch Table 2018

After the success of our first ever Harvest Lunch Table last year, this year we will be hosting one Harvest Lunch Table every Saturday during the month of March. This wonderfu

Our Cellar Master Awie Adolf honoured with prestigious 1659 Medal of Honour!

Photo: Representatives from the industry received the 1659 medal of honour on behalf of the wine workers: From left to right: Dr Ernest Messina (Chairperson, Groot Constantia

Q & A with our Chief Winemaker, Anthony de Jager

Recently, we sat down with our Chief Winemaker, Anthony de Jager, to ask him a few questions. Anthony joined Fairview as winemaker in December 1996. He has since partaken in m

The Story of Our Fairview Crest

Have you ever read about the story of our Fairview crest? Our crest embodies all of our values in a timeless design. The crest forms the heart of the entire Fairview range, ha

Giving Back to the Environment

Fairview is a third generation family owned farm and so naturally, there is a strong relationship between those who own and work the vineyards, and the very land that provides

Planting a New Vineyard | Cinsault

Recently, we planted a new vineyard. As you can imagine, this doesn’t happen all that often, so the occasion becomes quite auspicious on the farm. The process may seem s

Fairview: Then and Now (1998 -2017)

Recently, one of our longest standing tasting room hosts (both literally and figuratively), Lyn Brodovcky wrote a memoir of her time at Fairview over the last 19 years. Here’s

Looking Back on 2017 | By Charles Back

When someone asks you to look back on the year, it is often hard to summarize all the activities and experiences in a few sentences. The year bumbles along month to month, and

Goat’s Do Roam Has A Brand New Bag …

Fairview’s Goats Do Roam has got a brand new bag … in box – and its nothing like you’ve ever seen before! Inspired by our goats, our newly-designed han

NEW! | Fairview’s French pastry with an African Flair

Our Fairview Deli has a tasty new addition! Originally based in Durbanville, French bakery owner Sophie Courchay has joined hands with Fairview to bake up a storm for our deli

New Look for Goats Do Roam!

The wine is called Goats do Roam. No, not Côtes-du-Rhône. And yes, it was always intended to be like that. As you’ll know by now, I’ve always enjoyed tweaking sensibilities –

Get Creative in our Kids Art Corner This December!

  Let your kids get creative this Holiday at our Fairview Farm! We are excited to announce that we have Fern from Art4Kids presenting Kids Art Activities this holiday 

Changing Cheddar for the Better

If you’re like us, cheddar was your first love. Your grilled toastie wasn’t complete without the creamy goodness filling, your macaroni bland without its cheesy soulmate. Orig

Nurok Scores 92 Points at the Cape White Blend Report 2017

At last week’s 2nd annual Cape White Blend Report 2017 award ceremony held at our homebase Fairview farm, we were very proud to achieve a 92-point rating for our Fairvie

Bloemcool Tinto Fino Tempranillo | Our 2nd Vintage Now Available!

Today we are celebrating this robust, flavourful grape with the release of our new vintage of Bloemcool Tinto Fino Tempranillo 2014 – a wine that sold out as quickly as it hit

Our Farmer of the Year 2017!

We’re very lucky here at Fairview. With Charles Back at the helm of a tightly-run ship, there are always innovative projects around us, new and exciting varietals to pla

Back to Basics | New Back’s Restaurant & Deli

Last week, we made first mention of our newly opened sister restaurant and deli in Main Road, Paarl. This week, we’re excited to give you the full low down. For family p

Say Hola to Our Spanish Friends! | International Tempranillo Day

Saturday, 9th November this year marks International Tempranillo Day – a day we are most definitely celebrating! As big advocates of the Spanish variety, we’ve use

Introducing Paarl’s new ‘locavore’ restaurant and deli, Back’s!

For family proprietors Charles and Raphael, Back is not only their shared, historic surname but also the name of their newest venture together, a restaurant and deli called Ba

Western Cape Farmer of the Year 2017 | Charles Back

On Friday evening, 20th October, Charles Back was presented with the award for the ‘Western Cape’s Farmer of the Year’ for 2017.  Since 1977, Agricultural Writers

An African First – Goat Yoga at Fairview!

Yes. You read that right! Goat Yoga is now a trend. After first gaining traction in the USA, the animal therapy-meets-exercise concept has been grabbing the attention of every

An Homage to Pinotage

Saturday, 14th October marks National Pinotage Day – a day to celebrate South Africa’s specialty, a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. First crossed in 1925 in the gardens of

Happy World Farm Animal Day!

This week, on the 2nd October, is World Farm Animal Day! At Fairview, we’re all celebrating, as our farm is always a hub of activity, thanks to our beloved animals that

Our History of Fairview Cheese

The story of Fairview cheeses starts three decades ago, when Cyril Back purchased his first Saanen dairy goats, setting Fairview on the path to becoming one of South Africa’s

20 Years of Viognier! | Our Heritage Grape

This Sunday, 24th September, marks our National Heritage Day! It is a day when South African’s are encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions in the wider context

Our Tim Atkin Raving Results 2017

Following two visits to the Cape earlier this year, Tim Atkins fifth edition of the South Africa Special Report comes out today. We are very proud and happy to announce that w

It’s Here: Broken Barrel #2 Now Available!

The concept of Broken Barrel is simple.We have over 600 hectares of land across 5 appellations, and our team has the privilege of working with 31 different grape varieties. Br

Our Goats Do Roam Rosé Rocks!

On the 15th August 2017, our Goats Do Roam Rosé received a gold in South Africa’s only rosé wine competition, ‘Rosé Rocks!’.  The competition seeks to recognise excellen

Kidding season at Fairview – no jokes!

Please note: Our Kidding Season will be up and running from Saturday 16th September until the end of October. Our baby goats will be out ONLY on Saturday and Sunday from 9am –

5 Places to Buy Fairview Wines Online

Buying wine online might seem a little foreign. After all, wine is a sensual experience, incorporating your sight, smell and taste – none of which is really available di

Extraño | Our Winner at Winemag Signature Red Blend 2017

On the 1st August 2017, the second annual Winemag Signature Red Blend Report Awards was held at Villa 47 in Cape Town, with our Fairview Extraño making us proud yet again, win

Women’s Day with Rose Quartz Rosé

Rosé is like the under-celebrated middle-child of the wine world- she really does have her work cut out for her when it comes to proving herself. So, fellow wine starter-upper

Celebrate Life at the La Capra Goat Run & Festival 2017!

It’s that time of the year again! The amazing La Capra Goat Run is a much-loved charity event that celebrates the sounds, sights and tastes of Paarl and the spirit of La Capra

Warm Up This Winter With Fairview Shiraz

As mid-winter bring with it colder temperatures, we dust off our boots and straighten out our warm jackets. Recipes like homey soups, stews and slow-cooked meals are suddenly

Nik Rabinowitz to Raise More Than Just Laughs

This year, our Goatshed Restaurant will host its 4th annual Charity Dinner on 27 October 2017. After battling cancer for many years and realising what a true privilege it is t

Our Fairview Firsts

At Fairview, we have a proud history of ‘firsts’. Charles Back, the owner of Fairview, is one of the great entrepreneurs and innovators of the wine world – an indi

All Hail Grenache!

This week, our Fairview Piekenierskloof Grenache was named one of the top 20 South African Grenache Noirs by renowned South African sommelier Higgo Jacobs. In his review, Jaco

Our Happy Chickens

As a farm, our goal is simple. We want to cut out the middle man, and sell direct to our visitors. Why? Because we are agriculturally-driven farmers, and believe that we shoul

Cellar Sessions #3 | Viognier

With thousands of grape varieties out there, about 1,300 of which are used to make wine commercially, we don’t blame you if you find it tricky to identify your Pinot Noir’s fr

The Magic of our Old Vines

If you’ve ever tried some of our Single Vineyard wines, you might have come across the term ‘old vines’. But what exactly do we mean by that? It’s quite simple really. We mean

Our Ultimate Baked Camembert

Winter time calls for blankets. And heaters. And red wine. And cheese! At Fairview, it should come as little surprise that we absolutely love our cheese. And in winter, there

From the Ground Up

At Fairview, our mission is to create a fully sustainable farm – starting from the ground up. With a herd of over 900 goats, we employ conscious farming techniques by co

Two in the Top 12 Shiraz SA!

We’re thrilled to announce our most recent award winners in the 2017 Shiraz SA Wine Challenge. On the 31st May 2017, Fairview once again proved its prowess in the cultiv

Our Very Own Olive Oil

The latest addition to the offerings from Fairview is our very own Extra Virgin Olive Oil, packaged in a 500ml bottle and available at our Farm Deli Shop and now online for R7

Catapulting Cinsault onto the Scene!

One of the key philosophical traits Fairview has orientated itself around is to always push the boundaries of traditional winemaking. For decades, our team has done this by pl

Goatshed Dinners 2017

Winter, as much as some of us would like to deny it, is here. With the sun setting earlier and our hands seeking comfort in the depth of our pockets, regular carb-filled indul

Fairview takes top honours at the 2017 National Wine Challenge

The 2017 National Wine Challenge winners were announced on 25 April 2017 at a gala event, where Fairview Wine and Cheese Estate in Paarl was named a Vineyard Consistency Award

The Sweetest Mother’s Day Yet | La Beryl Blanc

It’s hard to believe that 2017 is swooshing by as swiftly as it has so far! As April comes to a close and May begins, we’re checking our calendars in disbelief. A

Fairview’s latest White Rock Cheese Pear with Caramel Flavour

Fairview has recently launched a new Pear with Caramel edition to their popular, handcrafted White Rock cheeses. Mild and semi-soft, White Rock cheese contrasts beautifully wi

Cellar Sessions #2: Sangiovese

With thousands of grape varieties out there, about 1,300 of which are used to make wine commercially, we don’t blame you if you find it tricky to identify your Pinot Noir’s fr

Easter with Fairview

Easter is around the corner, and we have great news – our roads are finally open, meaning no more roadworks! To celebrate this and this special family time, we’re making

Fairview’s Winning Label Designs

We are so proud to announce our winning labels from this year’s 2017 Wine Label Design Awards! Our Fairview Extraño came in with a Bronze medal, while our new Bloemcool

The Journey of a Barrel

When it comes to winemaking, after grapes, oak is an important (and expensive) component of many wines, having a crucial impact on the quality and final outcome. Last year, ou

Most popular Cheese & Wine destination in the Cape winelands!

Did you know that our Tasting Room is the most popular cheese and wine destination in the Cape winelands? Building on a reputation that stretches back in history, Cyril and Be

Harvest Celebrations in Full Swing!

When it comes to winemaking, the first and most crucial ingredient is grapes. Without them, there would be no wine! The collection of these grapes is called harvest, and it is

Rock your Dessert | White Rock with Mango & Ginger

The newest addition to Fairview’s growing assortment of popular, handcrafted White Rock cheeses is Mango & Ginger. Mild and semi-soft, White Rock cheese dreamily complemen

Paarl Chenin & Cinsault | The Comeback Kids

You could say there is a trend permeating among local winemakers, and it is a very positive one at that. After centuries of keeping close to traditionally classic, cooler clim

Harvest 2017 in Full Swing

It’s harvest time at the farm, and things are in full swing at the moment! This week we catch our winemakers Anthony, Stephanie and Annette in a moment of respite betwee

The Real Cheesecake

Tired of fruitcake imprisoned in marzipan? With Fairview’s delectable offering, you can create a trendy, tiered tower of artisanal cheese rounds that are stacked and decorated

Cheers to love this Valentine’s Day!

Love is in the air at Fairview and we want to help you spoil your special someone! Why not share some bubbles with the one who make your eyes sparkle? We recommend our Fairvie

Charles Back becomes the most awarded winemaker in South Africa!

We’re thrilled to share that Fairview’s Charles Back has been awarded the 1659 Wine Industry Medal of Honour for 2017! In his acceptance speech, Charles stated tha

Oh Hello, Verdelho! | Cellar Session #2

With thousands of grape varieties out there, about 1,300 of which are used to make wine commercially, we don’t blame you if you find it tricky to identify your Pinot Noir’s fr

New! | Our Farm-Reared, Free-Range Meat

At Fairview, our vision is to become a self-sufficient, working farm. We are steadily working towards ensuring that everything we need for the restaurant, tasting room, shop a

Goatshed’s New Look

Run by talented Chef SJ Nel and warm-hearted Restaurant Manager Shannon Riley, Fairview’s beloved country-style eatery, the Goatshed, received a recent revamp at the end

Mmh, Cheese! | Fairview Feta

Do cheese shops and carts intimidate you? Where do you even begin when it comes to fancy cheeses? That’s okay! As with any niche, it can be truly overwhelming to figure out th

Cellar Sessions #1 | Darling Sauvignon Blanc

With thousands of grape varieties out there, about 1,300 of which are used to make wine commercially, we don’t blame you if you find it tricky to identify your Pinot Noir’s fr

New Kids on the Block!

35 years after our famous Goat Tower was first built, Charles Back and team decided to create a bigger, more exciting playground for the most important members on the farm, th

Our Roads are Open for Season!

We’re all ready to welcome you this festive season! You might be aware that we’ve had road works on our road all year to ensure a safer road for our patrons, but a

New Fairview Website!

We’re celebrating! We’ve been working hard to make our offering available to you even after you’ve left our cellar doors. Today marks the launch of our brand new website and o

A True Labour of Love

With everything we do here on the farm – whether it’s rearing our beloved goats to provide us with the creamiest milk to make our range of Chevin rolls, or kneading out dough

Introducing Stok by Paaltjie

  “Our 6th Addition to the Single Vineyard Range” One of the key philosophical traits Fairview has orientated itself around is to always push the boundaries of tra

The tale of our Goat Tower

In the early 80s, Charles set off on a trip to Portugal. The goal was to visit the cork industry, as the montado landscape of Portugal produces approximately half the cork har

Heralding in a new era for serious rosé!

With a name as enticing as its delicate rose petal hue, we are proud to introduce a more serious style of rosé wine, the Fairview Rose Quartz 2016! South Africa’s vineyard lan

How I Lost My Thumb

Here’s a story many have asked to hear, but I’ve shared with few. The story of how I lost my thumb. As an individual, I’ve always loved being right in the heart of the action

How Charles Met Madiba

Sometime in the 90s, Charles was jogging along the road in the South Coast town of Vermont near Hermanus, when he spotted Nelson Mandela standing on the stoep of celebrated So