KEN FORRESTER

Ken and Teresa Forrester and their two daughters relocated from Johannesburg to the 28ha Scholtzenhof farm in 1993. Their motivation was to have the luxury of space to raise a family in a quiet rural setting. Scholtzenhof, one of the oldest wine farms in the Cape Province, was originally granted as Zandberg in 1689. It is situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, in the heart of South Africa's famous wine regions of Stellenbosch and the Helderberg.

Ken, a foody by nature and passion who had been head of the South African Hotel and Restaurant Association and started and owned a number of fine dining restaurants. Ken owns 96 Winery Road, a short hop across the road from Scholtzenhof, which is an ideal showcase for his talents as restaurateur and winemaker.

Given Ken's great passion for and understanding of food, his philosophy is to handcraft wines that complement a wide variety of food styles. Chenin Blanc is his passion and he has built very strong links to winemakers in the Loire Valley to further his purpose. The 30 year old vines allow Ken to produce a wine that stands a class apart: a sturdy food wine of complex structure, unmistakeably Chenin. His Grenache/Syrah is unique in South Africa, Scholtzenhof having the only Grenache vineyard in Stellenbosch. This was planted in 1953 and the bushvines add incredible texture and complexity to this blend.

www.kenforrester.com