You know the friend who can do it all? Gorgeous, smart, effortlessly chic, killing it at their dream job and then, on top of that, they’re kind, hilariously funny, and wouldn’t hesitate to take you to the airport at some ungodly early hour with a pre-packed breakfast and takeaway coffee ready and waiting? Steenberg is that friend. The go-to cool-climate Constantia bubble? Check. Some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the country? They do that, too. But their list of achievements doesn’t end there. Oh, no. With the weather having taken a turn for the decidedly chilly, it’s their 95-point reds, the Catharina and the Merlot, you should be reaching for.
“Cool-climate red wines have a remarkable ability to express both power and finesse,” says Steenberg Cellarmaster Elunda Basson. “The longer ripening period allows us to preserve freshness and purity of fruit while building texture, detail and elegance in the wine. That balance is what makes Constantia so special.”
The 2022 Catharina is bold yet polished, with concentrated blackberry, cassis, plum and dark cherry layered with lavender blossom, dark chocolate and subtle spice. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it delivers depth, freshness and structure. The wine recently earned a Gold Medal and 95 points at the 2026 London Wine Competition.
Alongside it, Steenberg’s Merlot 2022 continues to impress with its plush texture, lifted acidity and savoury depth, earning 95 points and the title of “Merlot of the Year” at the same competition.
For those looking further off the beaten path, Nebbiolo from Steenberg’s small-batch Canvas Collection offers floral notes, sour cherry, rooibos tea leaf and savoury spice, softened by Steenberg’s signature cool-climate elegance.
These are wines shaped quietly but deliberately by place, history and patience. We told you Steenberg can do it all.