About

There’s no stopping Fairview owner/vintner Charles Back when his interest in a creative, entrepreneurial project is piqued. It all started with a suggestion by a wine buyer…  the man humorously suggested the vinification of a Rhône-style blend called “Goats do Roam”. Back, already known for his panache with Shiraz and always looking for new styles of wine to woo adventurous and discerning consumers, took the ball and ran with it.

He saw this an an ideal opportunity to explore areas of the Cape winelands either  hitherto untapped for viticultural development or simply under-exploited  for quality wine growing. In essence, he set about ‘seeking enclaves of excellence’ and blending it into a wine with its own identity. The finished product was always going to be more Cape than Rhône – Back is proudly South African and has a deep-seated belief in the potential of Cape wines and a strong sense of integrity. But he also has a quirky, irrepressible sense of humour, which led to the creation of the first Goats Do Roam label, which many with great amusement interpreted as a friendly jibe at the French – and in this case, the Côte du Rhône growers’ – sense of proprietary right when it comes to branding the source of a wine.

‘Not so’, says Back, though with the barely disguised air of a naughty schoolboy delighting in his own mischief. The ‘legend’ goes that some errant members of Fairview’s long-established goat herd, supplier of milk for Fairview’s internationally award-winning cheeses, took the gap when Charles Back’s young son Jason and buddy Justin had left open the gate to the paddock containing Fairview’s famous goat tower. The little group happily roamed among the vineyards, showing rare discernment by selecting the ripest berries off some of the choicest vines…

The goats roam the Cape’s vineyards

Thus was born, in 1999, what was for the South African wine scene an innovative blend using Rhône varieties such as Shiraz, Cinsaut, Carignan and Mourvèdre with a dash of local Pinotage, which Back had sourced from various vineyards (his own and others) around Paarl and Malmesbury. But, despite the humour of the packaging, the content of the bottle impressed with its quality, combining rich complexity with great drinkability. Originally a single wine which appeared as part of the Fairview range, the run-away success of Goats do Roam led to the development of a variety of different blends, always using a cornucopia of varieties   some white, some red – which Back continued to winkle out from all areas of the Western Cape. These were separated from the Fairview ‘herd’ and are now part of a fully-fledged independent commercial venture called The Goats do Roam Wine Company.

The initial launch of the wines into the American market brought protestation from a certain French appellation. This caused a wave of press, which the Goats do Roam Wine Company happily rode to become the top selling South African brand in the USA for a almost a decade. But Back continued to have fun with the naming of each wine and the design of each individual label, with endless witty allusions to the world of wine and goats! Besides additions to the family of Goats do Roam, there came the Goat-Roti, then a pair of Goats in Villages. Wine lovers with a sense of discernment matched only by their sense of humour have subsequently been introduced to the Bored Doe and Goat Door. A rather notorious member of the herd, Don Goatti, has recently had his personal selection of varietals bottled and added to the range under The Goatfather label.

Bringing new balance to the brand

In 2009 a decision was taken to evolve the three core wines in the Goats do Roam range, the much-loved Red, White and Rosé. The varietals used were carefully considered, maintaining the style that the ‘Goats’ had become renowned for while improving the overall quality of the wines. The company’s vineyard plantings had increased and matured during the preceding years, providing a greater pool of high quality wines. Accompanying the refocus inside the bottle was a evolution to the packaging of the wines. While Back recounts many late nights and heated debates through the design process, he proudly displays the updated packaging. Emphasizing the importance of balance in blending a great wine, the label draws inspiration from ancient Mesopotamian design while taking a bold step forward for the brand. The back labels also now include an explanation of the varietal components and their contribution to the style and taste of the wine.

The future looks bright for the Goats do Roam Wine Company, with quirks and innovation seemingly around every corner and a dedicated team at the head of the herd.