Despite a Johannesburg upbringing, Stephanie Wiid has wine in her blood - her grandfather was the renowned Niel Joubert of Spier, pioneer and founding member of the Stellenbosch Wine Route. She graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2008 with a BSc in Viticulture and Oenology and later completed her masters degree in Viticulture. Stephanie started her career with a 10-year stint at the renowned Fairview winery in Paarl as an intern which later lead to her appointment as Winemaker. Harvests on foreign shores included both France and England. Since the establishment of Thistle and Weed in 2015, with founding partners Stephanie as winemaker and Etienne Terblanche as viticulturist, the boutique winery has maintained its focus on Chenin Blanc and other varieties suited to the warm South African climate. They say they are inspired by the uncompromising tenacity and survival skills of the often overlooked thistles and weeds of the vineyards, drawing a parallel to the virtues they see in their vines. Each of their six wines has been named, in Afrikaans, after one of indigenous plants found in each plot.