A New Era in Bottle: Meet Our New Reds

We've only just reached August, and this year has already brought a couple of milestones. 

Etienne recently celebrated his 40th, Steph's isn't far behind, and Thistle & Weed has entered its red-wine era.

For a winery that's long been known for Chenin Blanc, that's a fairly significant statement. 

Then again, perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise. Alicante Bouschet and Tempranillo have been part of our story from the very beginning, helping shape Nastergal over the past decade. Now they're finally getting the chance to stand on their own, joined by a single-barrel Cabernet Sauvignon we've been wanting to make for years.

Three new wines have joined the Harvest Club collection, each with its own vineyard story to tell. They also introduce our new label design, featuring vineyard maps inspired by the sites we work with and the growers behind them. 

To mark the occasion, we opened the bottles around a long table with a handful of fellow winemakers and friends whose opinions we trust. By the end of lunch, there wasn't much left. 

Now it's your turn to meet the trio.

Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2024: Our most unapologetically bold release to date.

From a single barrel in the Oudeberg vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon brings graphite, red fruit, baking spice and subtle oak together in a wine with plenty of presence, without ever feeling heavy.  Eighteen months in second-fill French oak have added depth without overwhelming the fruit.

Just 301 bottles were produced from this single-barrel release - proof that spending enough time in Jonkershoek eventually makes you want to bottle a Cabernet of your own.

Drinking beautifully now, with plenty of years ahead of it.

Wellington Alicante Bouschet 2025: Deep, dark and perfectly suited to winter.

Packed with ripe plum, dark fruit and a touch of lavender, this is a softer, more generous expression than many might expect from Alicante Bouschet. Rounded, velvety and thoroughly comforting.

With only 182 bottles produced, this small-batch release offers a rare chance to see one of Nastergal's key building blocks standing on its own.

One for the fireplace, the stew pot and the colder months ahead.

Western Cape Tempranillo 2024: Fresh, bright and full of energy.

Iron-rich soils, purple flowers, cranberry, blueberry and a gentle peppery spice all show up here, held together by fine tannins and bright acidity. A wine with plenty of energy now and the structure to reward a bit of patience.

Just 346 bottles were produced, giving this often-overlooked variety a chance to step out from the blend and into the spotlight.

Why This Trio?

Over the years, Alicante Bouschet and Tempranillo have become important building blocks in Nastergal. We've spent plenty of time getting to know them as part of the blend, so sooner or later, curiosity was bound to get the better of us.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a slightly different story. Being based in Jonkershoek, it's hard not to develop a soft spot for the variety. With open-top fermenters in the cellar and some exceptional fruit from Oudeberg, the temptation to make a Cabernet of our own eventually became too much to resist.

The result? Three small-batch wines we've wanted to bottle on their own for a while and are finally ready to share.

Get Them First 

Joining is refreshingly straightforward: purchase any six bottles of Thistle & Weed wine over the course of a year (mixed cases count too) and we'll add you to the club by hand.

Because we do this ourselves, rather than automatically, there can be a slight delay before your invitation arrives. Fortunately, everyone seems to survive the wait. We work with grapes, not Apple, after all.

Once you're in, we'll send you an email inviting you to create your password and log in to your own section of the website. That's where you'll find these new releases, library vintages, limited-release magnums and a few other bottles we like to keep among friends.

[Join Now]

Harvest Club FAQs

How do I join? 

Buy any six bottles of Thistle & Weed over the course of a year.

Can I mix different wines?

Absolutely.

How long does it take?

We add members by hand, so there can be a slight delay before your invitation arrives.

Where do I find the Harvest Club wines?

Once you've received your login details, you'll find them in your Harvest Club section of the website.

Still have a question? Drop us a message - we're always happy to help.