Ken Forrester, Owner, Ken Forrester Vineyards, South Africa

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  In 1993, hospitality industry veteran Ken Forrester and his wife Teresa purchased the historic Scholtzenh of Estate, nestled at the base of the Helderberg in Stellenbosch. Originally established in 1689 as Zandberg, the property is one of the oldest wine farms in the Cape. While Teresa began restoration work on the 1694 Cape Dutch farmhouse which would become the Forrester family home, Ken enlisted the help of his winemaker friend Martin Meinert in replanting and revitalizing the vineyards, with an aim to craft a white wine that could rival any in the world! And so it was that Ken Forrester Vineyards was established, with a focus on Chenin Blanc production. The Ken Forrester brand consists of three tiers of wines: the value “Petit” range, which consistently garners “best value” awards; the “Ken Forrester” range, which is grown in the estate vineyards and forms the heart of the brand; and the premium, limited-production “Icon” range. Ken’s overarching goal is “to create a range of handcrafted, individually made wines that suitably complement a wide variety of food styles.”