Premium Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc pioneer, Ken Forrester.
The Ken Forrester Old Vines Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021 was awarded a Best in Show award at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, cementing Forrester’s reputation as the pioneering leader of Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc.
Almost three decades since Ken Forrester of Ken Forrester Wines made the career shift from prominent Johannesburg restaurateur to Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc specialist, the Chenin Blanc category has evolved vastly and this variety is now widely regarded as South Africa’s white flagship. Being recognised as the world’s top Chenin Blanc at the Decanter awards – with a score of 97 – is an endorsement of Ken’s continued commitment to producing world class Chenin, specifically from old vineyards.
The combination of cool growing conditions and ample sunshine has been instrumental in Ken Forrester’s Old Vine Reserve Chenin. This Chenin Blanc is sustainably produced from grapes that are grown almost exclusively at Ken Forrester Vineyards, on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. Abundant Stellenbosch sunshine and cool growing conditions due to the close proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, result in a wine with harmonious balance between fruit and delicate oak/vanilla flavours, with melon, honeycomb and spicy baked apple aromas, complemented by crisp mineral notes.
The Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc is harvested in two selections – one batch naturally fermented on French oak barrels and a second batch fermented in stainless steel to preserve the freshness and the fruit.
“Our philosophy has always been to create a range of sustainable, handcrafted, individually made wines that suitably complements a wide variety of food styles. The Old Vine Reserve Chenin has generous but soft flavours with sufficient body to enhance even spicy and full flavoured meals,” explains Ken.
The Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc is available at fine wine shops and restaurants across the globe.
About Ken Forrester
In 1993 Ken Forrester – at the time a respected restaurateur in Johannesburg – and his wife Teresa set their hearts on the historic Scholtzenhof estate (established in 1689) in Stellenbosch, when they bought the homestead and farm on a public auction.
The first wines were produced in 1994 under the Ken Forrester label and soon the wines were at the forefront of the Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc revival.
Ken Forrester is the Chairman of the South African Chenin Blanc Association and continues to push boundaries with a range comprising seven different styles of Chenin Blanc.