From Stoep to Cellar: The Reds We Reach For This Time of Year

Nicole Sissison
5 hours ago
3 min read

Autumn is starting to settle over the Jonkershoek Valley, showing up in small ways at first.

The days are still warm enough for a glass outside, but evenings cool off quicker. Tastings start edging back into the cellar - right where the wines are made - even if the stoep is still very much in play on a good day.

And it’s not just us - the same shift usually shows up at home too.

The ice bucket takes a back seat to the wine rack and glasses are filled with something a little more comforting.

In the kitchen, it follows suit. Less seafood and salads, more roast chicken, richer sauces and dishes that take their time. Nothing drastic - just a gradual shift in how (and what) we feel like eating and drinking.

This is usually when the reds start to come into their own.

Two Reds, Different Jobs

Knapsekêrel Cabernet Franc and Nastergal Red are our old faithfuls, but each offers something different.

One keeps things lighter and more flexible as the season turns. The other leans into slower meals and longer evenings.

Both have their place - it just depends on what kind of day you’ve had and what’s on the table.

Knapsekêrel: Easy Going, Still Structured

Knapsekêrel is usually the first red we start opening this time of year.

Made from Cabernet Franc grown on the granitic slopes of the Polkadraai Hills, it leans into freshness - no oak, gentle extraction and just enough structure to hold things together without weighing it down.

There’s a herbal edge, some spice and bright red fruit - the kind of wine that signals the shift in season without going all in.

It works for those in-between days - when lunch is still outside, but dinner ends up indoors, a jersey appears somewhere along the line and the evening stretches out without much planning.

Roast vegetables, grilled chicken, anything with a bit of char or earthiness - Knapsekêrel handles it all with ease.

The 2025 release has just landed, while the 2024 vintage is still available in the library for Harvest Club members.

Nastergal: When Things Slow Down

Nastergal takes things a step further.

Built from climate-fit varieties rather than the usual Cabernet-led approach, it leans darker, with more structure and a bit more weight - the kind of wine that feels at home once the table starts to fill up properly.

The 2022 recently scored 95 points in Decanter, tasted blind among South Africa’s top Cabernet blends - despite not containing any Cabernet. A nice nod, but more than anything, it reflects how the wine shows up in the glass: composed, structured and right at home alongside slower meals.

The 2022 vintage now sits in our library collection for Harvest Club members, while the 2024 steps in as the latest release (with 2023 already sold out).