In 1995, iconic producer Charles Back ventured into South Africa’s Swartland—then just a bulk-wine region—and discovered an extraordinary single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc at Klein Amoskuil. Captivated by its quality, Back bought the farm on a handshake agreement, unknowingly preserving what turned out to be the country’s oldest Sauvignon Blanc block. He launched Spice Route Winery and hired a young Eben Sadie, effectively igniting Swartland’s transformation into a dynamic hub for independent, revolutionary winemakers.
Driven by relentless curiosity, Back later traveled to Georgia to study the 8,000-year-old tradition of qvevri (amphora) winemaking. He and winemaker Charl du Plessis imported 20 of these clay vessels, burying them in the cellar soil to ferment and age grapes entirely with their skins, seeds, and stems. This labor-intensive, ancient practice requires no added yeast or sulfur, resulting in a deeply singular, zero-intervention style of skin-contact wine that was entirely new to the region.
Because these amphora wines were far too unique to remain part of another brand, Back launched a dedicated standalone label in 2021: Klein Amoskuil, named after the historic farm that started it all. Today, the label represents a beautiful convergence of ancient Georgian winemaking traditions and the pioneering, rebellious spirit that forever redefined the South African wine landscape.
