This family-run winery near Paarl is a leader in environmental care and innovation. In 2006, Backsberg became the first winery in South Africa, and the third in the world, to become carbon neutral.

With 10 percent of their land set aside for conservation, Backsberg has continued to embrace sustainability. From bottling some of their wines in PET plastic bottles and installing a biomass furnace to manage refrigeration (cooling from heat) to large-scale tree planting, Backsberg has also set itself the ambitious goal of generating all its own fuel and electricity from renewable sources.

Its aim is to go off the grid and be energy independent. Owner Michael Back won the Drinks Business’ Green Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.


Area conserved: 30 ha
Location: Paarl
Joining date: 28 September 2005
Website: Backsberg Winery