Stellenbosch, South Africa
Winery tour: Thistle & Weed in Stellenbosch, South Africa
What’s the winery in a nutshell?
Thistle & Weed is a boutique winery in Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands that draws inspiration from the resilient weeds – thistles and nettles – that thrive among the Cape’s vineyards, symbolizing the tenacity and survival instincts of grapevines. Their philosophy centres on simplicity and authenticity, with each wine telling the story of its unique terroir. Thistle & Weed is dedicated to uncovering the Cape’s hidden vineyard gems, intent on crafting honest natural wines that are made with a deep connection to nature and offer the most simple expression of the terroir from which they come.
What’s the story behind the vineyard?
Where it all started
Thistle & Weed was established in 2015 as a collaborative venture between viticulturist Etienne Terblanche and winemaker Stephanie Wiid.
They set out with the mission to discover the best of the Cape’s hidden gems, intent on crafting honest natural wines that are made with a deep connection to nature and offer the most simple expression of the terroir from which they come.
They started out crafting wines in rented cellar space across various wineries, where tastings often happened in unconventional settings with makeshift tables on barrels or upturned basket presses.
Fast forward to 2024
Fast forward nearly a decade and they found a permanent home for their trailblazing boutique winery. The Leef op Hoop farm in Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch is where the magic happens, this is where the Thistle & Weed winemaking now takes place. As their 10th anniversary approached in 2024, they checked off another major milestone by opening their tasting room – no more makeshift barrel tasting tables needed!
Grape sourcing
Since Thistle & Weed does not grow their own grapes on the farm, they partake in the growing concept of grape sourcing. The concept of sourcing grapes from different regions is becoming increasingly popular in the South African wine landscape.
As more and more wineries are affected by the changing climate, sourcing grapes only from the winery or estate’s vineyards is becoming a difficult task. Ultimately you want the best possible grapes for your wines, so why not source it from the regions where the grapes flourish? That is exactly what Thistle & Weed is doing.
The vineyards supplying Thistle & Weed are situated in prime wine regions like Paarl, Stellenbosch, the Swartland and the Piekenierskloof. These areas are renowned for their Mediterranean climates and diverse soils, providing ideal conditions for viticulture. Each wine’s grapes are sourced with purpose, focusing on the different terroir of each region.
Regions and terroir
The Chenin Blanc grapes are sourced from three different vineyards. The Duwweltjie (Devil’s Thorn) grapes are from a Paarl vineyard with granite soils and Malmesbury rocks, with impressive old vines dating back to 1961. The Brandnetel (Stinging Nettle) grapes are from the Stellenbosch region, where the vineyards are planted in decomposed granite and sandstone soils. The Springdoring (Sandbur) grapes are sourced from a vineyard situated in the Swartland region, where vineyards are planted in decomposed granite and soil consists of coarse sand and clay.
Their Cabernet Franc for the Knapsekêrel (Blackjack) is sourced from a Stellenbosch vineyard, where the coarse granite soils and a cool maritime climate ensure a wine with enduring tannins and plenty of fresh fruit.
Their Khakibos (Wild Marigold) blend contains a blend of Verdelho, Chenin blanc, Palomino and Fernão Pires, all from different regions. The Verdelho is grown in koffieklip-rich soil, treasured for its free-draining quality and found anchored on the foot slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. The Chenin Blanc is from the Paarl vineyard, the Palomino is grown in Piekenierskloof sandstone and the Fernão Pires from the gravelly soils located along the Breede River.
The Nastergal (Black Nightshade) blend consists of Tempranillo sourced from the shale soil vineyards along the Berg River in Wellington, while the Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Souzão and Touriga Francesa grapes are from the Stellenbosch vineyards.
Who’s behind the wine?
The viticulturist
Etienne Terblanche serves as the viticulturist at Thistle & Weed. His story begins in his small West Coast hometown, where he started out at his parents’ seaside restaurant. His academic pursuits led him to obtain a Master’s degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Montpellier SupAgro and a PhD in Viticulture from Stellenbosch University. Professionally, he honed his skills at Delheim Wines before transitioning to a consultancy role at Vinpro in 2018.
The winemaker
Stephanie Wiid serves as the winemaker at Thistle & Weed. Stephanie’s roots trace back to Johannesburg’s urban landscape. Despite city beginnings, her lineage is steeped in viticulture, with her grandfather, Niel Joubert of Spier, being a pioneer of the Stellenbosch Wine Route. This heritage inspired her move to Stellenbosch, where she earned a Master’s degree in Viticulture from Stellenbosch University. She dedicated a decade to winemaking at Fairview before fully committing to Thistle & Weed in late 2018. In 2024, Stephanie was named Young Winemaker of the Year by Master of Wine Tim Atkin – a major achievement and honour, that is well deserved!
The powerful duo
Together, Etienne and Stephanie are a force to be reckoned with, producing award-winning wines that are taking over the wine scene. Their collaboration is a testament to their dedication, blending scientific expertise with ancestral wisdom to produce wines that tell a story of place and passion.
Etienne and Stephanie believe producing wines goes beyond just being winemakers: ‟We’re not winemakers we’re winegrowers or rather, storytellers. There is nothing more exciting or nerve-wracking than to stand back and to see the story of place unfold in every bottle.”
What wines are they known for, and which three should I try?
Etienne and Stephanie draw parallels between thistles and weeds and the uncompromising tenacity and survival of grapevines. Each wine is named (in Afrikaans) and labelled, by such an inspiring local botanical.
Thistle & Weed keeps it simple with their single cultivar wines, producing three Chenin Blancs – Duwweltjie, Brandnetel and Springdoring – and one Cabernet Franc, the Knapsekêrel. With the Brandnetel Chenin Blanc being awarded an exceptional 96 points by Tim Atkin.
The blends is anything but ordinary – they contain unique cultivars that is rarely seen or used in South African wines. The Khakibos is a white blend containing Verdelho, Chenin Blanc, Alvarinho, Palomino and Finao Pires. The Nastergal is a red blend consisting of Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Souzao, Pontac, Tinta Francisca and Touriga Nacional. With the Khakibos being recognized with a 95-point rating in Tim Atkin’s South Africa Report – well deserved!
For their white wines, they use whole bunch pressing and natural fermentation in older French oak barrels to best preserve the freshness and purity of fruit. For the red wines, they use a combination of de-stemmed whole berries, crushed berries and whole bunches which ferment in open-top tanks and mature in older French oak barrels.
Stephanie believes in minimal intervention winemaking: ‟Simple winemaking with whole-bunch pressing, minimal intervention and natural fermentation in older oak barrels supports our mission to reflect the vintage and vineyard.”
Try these!
We’re lucky enough to have tried their entire range and it’s no easy task to choose just three favourites. When a winery produces so many exceptional wines, it’s nearly imposssible to put one wine above the rest – especially if you are a Chenin Blanc lover and the winery produces three exceptional Chenin Blancs.
But since all good things come in threes, we’re going to let the three different Chenin Blancs count as one – try them all! On a serious note, we do see why the Brandnetel Chenin Blanc is the forerunner and got a whopping 96-points with Tim Atkin, if we have to choose between the three Chenins, this one would be the favourite. The other two wines we highly recommend trying is the Khakibos and the Knapsekêrel.
01
Brandnetel Chenin Blanc
The Brandnetel (Stinging Nettle) gets its name from this tenacious yet humble weed that brings magic to fairy tales, protection in folklore and vitality to soil.
Sourced from a Stellenbosch vineyard planted in 1980, this wine offers aromas of yellow peach, quince and white grapefruit. The palate is rich and broad with moderate acidity, providing a textured mouthfeel. The finish is slightly mineral, reflecting the granitic soils of the vineyard.
We love this wine because it showcases the complexity that Chenin Blanc can have if made the right way. This wine has all of the beautiful fruity notes you want from a Chenin but it also has depth and just the right amount of oak. Plus, it pairs beautifully with a variety of cheeses, especially goat cheese.
02
Khakibos White Blend
Khakibos (Southern Marigold) is a weed that stems from foreign shores but is remarkably comfortable in the Cape climate.
Khakibos consists of a blend of Verdelho (41%) from Stellenbosch, Chenin Blanc (28%) from Paarl, Palomino (17%) from Piekenierskloof, Alvarinho (10%) from Wellington and Fernão Pires (4%) from the gravelly soils along the Breede River. This wine offers top notes of floral perfume, hay and herbs, followed by flavors of pear, peach, citrus and pineapple. The palate is well-balanced, pure and zesty with a dry finish.
This wine stands out because it’s simply irresistible – it’s a real crowd-pleaser and we’re pretty sure absolutely any wine drinker can enjoy this wine (even the die-hard Cabernet Sauvignon drinkers). It’s easy drinking and bursting with all the right floral and fruit flavours, with just the right amount of acidity to balance the wine.
03
Knapsekêrel Cabernet Franc
Knapsekêrel (Blackjack) is herbaceous plant that native to America, that has now become a sneaky little fast-spreading weed in various regions in Southern Africa.
The grapes for this wine are hand-picked from just seven rows of biodynamically farmed Cabernet Franc in Stellenbosch (Polkadraai Hills). This wine presents aromas of red berries, musk and a light herbal note. The palate is juicy and approachable, medium-bodied with moderate acidity and soft tannins.
We love this wine because it’s not your typical South African Cabernet Franc – it’s refined and elegant. You won’t find explosive tannin here, it’s balanced and focused on bringing out the plum and blackberries flavours, with a smooth texture that will have you sipping more and more.
What is the tasting experience like?
Thistle & Weed’s theme of drawing inspiration from the weeds that flourish amongst the Cape vines continues in their newly established tasting room. The tasting room is an unpretentious refuge where you can sit back, relax and enjoy life’s simple pleasures: connection, authenticity and nature’s bounty. You can also opt to do a wine tasting on the stoep (terrace), where you can enjoy the stunning Stellenbosch scenery.
They offer three tasting experiences. The Thistle & Weed Exclusive Tasting lasts around 60 minutes and includes a guided cellar tour led by a member of the knowledgeable winemaking team (which is regularly Stephanie herself). During this tour, they’ll share the captivating story of Thistle & Weed’s journey, a bit about the winemaking process and their philosophy. Additionally, during the tasting, you’ll discover the fascinating stories behind the weeds associated with each wine. The other tasting options are the Jou Doring Tasting, which is a white wine-tasting only and the Perfect Pairing tasting, which includes their cheese and charcuterie platter.
Also, keep an eye out for their special events – they recently had a Valentine’s Day Sundowner Picnic and regularly have similar events that include a wine and cheese picnic pairing, which you can enjoy on the lawn in front of the tasting room.
Booking your wine-tasting experience is essential, as Thistle & Weed focuses on intimate and personalised tasting experiences – so they have limited tables and times available. You can easily book your experience online via their website. The best time to visit Thistle & Weed is during the South African summer months, from November to March when the weather is pleasant and you can get the full experience of the lush landscapes of Stellenbosch. If you are staying in Stellenbosch or surrounding areas, you can easily get to Thistle & Weed by simply booking an Uber ride or pre-booking one of the plentiful shuttle services available in the region.
What else?
You can enjoy a wine and cheese pairing at the newly opened on-site taste room. Try the delectable cheese board featuring local artisanal cheeses. From the creamy camembert to tangy blue, each cheese is carefully curated to enhance the flavours of Thistle & Weed’s wines. Paired with artisanal crackers, fresh fruit and savoury accompaniments, the cheese board elevates the wine-tasting experience. Visiting Thistle & Weed is a personal experience, so you’ll even be able to get a private cellar tour with Stephanie as your personal guide, sharing the stories of the wines straight from the source.
Thistle & Weed is a relatively new brand, so dining and accommodation options on-site are limited. But at the tempo this winery is taking over the industry, we’re confident that you will be able to experience more at the Thistle & Weed headquarters in the coming years.
Thistle & Weed
Jonkershoek Rd
Stellenbosch
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Thistle & Weed
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Thistle & Weed
Jonkershoek Rd
Stellenbosch
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Thistle & Weed
Urban
Rural
Trendy
Classic
Happening
Serene
Affordable
Lavish