The "Backsberg Estate Cellars" vineyard is located on the Simonsberg in the South African Paarl wine district and was founded in 1916 by Charles Back. His son Sydney took over in 1938 and continued to develop the estate. Since 1976 it has been managed by Michael Back in the third generation. In 1997 he entered into a joint venture with the Californian winery Simi Winery. The vineyards comprise 300 hectares of vines. The white wine varieties Chardonnay, Steen(Chenin Blanc), Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, as well as the red wine varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Shiraz(Syrah) are cultivated. The flagship of the house is the Bordeaux blend "Klein Babylonstoren". It also produces sparkling wines, rosés and a barrel aged brandy called "Sydney Back" from Chenin Blanc. The first vintage of the brandy was awarded the Trophy sponsored by Allied Domecq as "world's best brandy" at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.
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