People used to smoke from the land, now they drink from it...

The Spice Route Winery is found in an area of South Africa that has unique soil. Many believe it owes its uniqueness to the tobacco farms that use to occupy its land. However, Charles Back, a well known South African wine producer studied the land, and he believes it has a lot to do with the areas extreme climate and the red clay, which makes for very dry growing conditions. This dryland area, in particular, is referred to as the Swartland and is located between the mountains and the coast. Regardless of the exact science of the terroir, Spice Route is producing some interesting blends and single varietals.

Chakalaka is one of their three flagship wines, it is named after a traditional South African spice blend and it is meant to represent the blended South African culture. The wine consists of 6 different grapes: Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Petite Sirah and Tannat. These grapes truly shine in this climate, the combination creates savory flavors laced with fruits such as plum and black cherry. This medium bodied, smooth wine would make a great gift for someone who enjoys different blends.