The Mother of All Grapes

It's December of 1885: South Africa’s grapes are thriving and wine production is flowing. But as the new year begins, disaster strikes. January 1886 marks the first recorded case of phylloxera on a farm in Mowbray - a tiny, sap-sucking pest that had already decimated Europe's wine industry. Now, it had arrived on South African soil, threatening to rewrite the future of the country's winemaking legacy.

A Viticultural Insurance Is Born 

After years of devastation, as vine roots weakened and vineyards perished, the solution came from an unexpected source - North America, the very place phylloxera originated. Phylloxera-resistant rootstocks and seeds were imported and carefully planted in quarantine stations in Rondebosch and Groot Constantia. With this, in 1937, South Africa’s first mother blocks were established, marking a turning point in the country’s viticultural history.

What is a Mother Block?

If the vineyard is the family, the mother block is the heart - nurturing, guiding, and ensuring strong, healthy growth. Just as a mother passes down wisdom through generations, a mother block provides healthy, true-to-type vine material, ensuring the strength and longevity of vineyards to come. Free from disease, these carefully maintained sections serve as the wine world’s equivalent of a seed bank - a vital safeguard, offering resilience and renewal should disaster ever strike again.

The Thistle & Weed Way

At Thistle & Weed, the mother block is a reminder of how patience is key to creating something beautiful. Our own approach to winemaking focuses on honest wines that offer a simple expression of the terroir from which they come. As a mother herself, Stephanie embodies the spirit of a mother block - a foundation of strength, nurturing, and wisdom. Just as vines rely on their mother block for resilience and growth, Stephanie guides her children with the same love and patience, both at home and in the vineyard.

This Mother’s Day, celebrate the woman who shaped you with a bottle of our Khakibos White Blend or Nastergal Red, both featuring components sourced from South Africa’s historic mother blocks. Or better yet, visit our tasting room to raise a glass - to great wines, beautiful views, and the enduring love that helps us all flourish - just like the vines.