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Back to Freedom
Just how much the situation has changed in South Africa since Apartheid days is a
topic that merits much discussion. Superficially, in the Western Cape at least, there are not many notable differences to the casual observer.
That being said, on the Backsberg Estate 20
minutes' drive north of Stellenbosch, interesting changes are afoot thanks to a project called Freedom Road. It owes its existence to the foresight and determination of a man who has no
time for treating anyone as a second class citizen. Wine producer Michael Back has inspired and encouraged this pioneer scheme to enable impoverished estate workers to buy their own
homes. Assisted by government funds, estate workers operate a vineyard leased from a private landowner, and with the aid of Backsberg expertise and marketing are producing wine on a
commercial basis. UK consumers can now add their own support merely by purchasing Sauvignon Blanc under the Freedom Road label at £4.99 from Tesco. The label was inspired by Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.
Michael, a curly-haired, shaggy-bearded, rather
solid individual is a decent, caring human being, who feels for his fellow man and is clearly influenced by his own family background. His grandfather Charles Back, a poor
Lithuanian Jew, arrived in Cape Town in 1902 and sweated his way from his first job as a labourer building dockyards in Cape Town, to become a butcher's assistant before
buying a shop of his own in Paarl. Apparently, whenever he could afford to, he would send money home and another Back relative would arrive. Their future literally depended on his conscience and generosity.
Michael says that many of his friends and relatives have left South Africa and that he
and his family have three options when reviewing our position in the country, namely: evaporate, emigrate or participate!! At Backsberg we believe that participation is the only viable alternative.
On a neck leaflet Michael Back quotes from the book 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' by
Richard Bach. He says it encompasses the emotion and feeling underlying the project.
When Livingston Seagull joined the flock on the beach it was full night. He was dizzy
and terribly tired. Yet in the delight he flew a loop to landing, with a snap roll just before touchdown.
When they hear of it, he thought, of the breakthrough, they'll be wild with joy. How
much more there is now to living! Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there's a reason to life. We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can
find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly! The years ahead hummed and glowed with promise.
We too have learned to fly! 
One of those estate workers who has learned to fly
is Lizzie de Lewis. She told Wine on the Web that she and her husband and two of their children worked at Backsberg and that the Freedom Road project was wonderful. The thought of possessing
their own home for the first time was very good.
Finally comes the punchline; the first vintage of the
Sauvignon Blanc is a real success. For blessed by the guidance of the Backsberg winemaking team the end result is most rewarding. It is fresh flavoured with an attractive balance of fruit and acidity, is quite
full-bodied with good texture and has a clean dry finish
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Last updated on July 23, 2008