• Visiting a vineyard

    Ken Forrester Wines, the king of Chenin Blanc in South Africa

    If I were to pick a bottle of South African Chenin Blanc to drink, it would probably be the Ken Forrester Dirty Little Secret… Ken Forrester (an ex-restaurateur) started the winery in 1994 with the hope to make Chenin Blanc in Stellenbosch that can rival Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Impressively, Ken Forrester (also known as Mr Chenin Blanc) sold 400 cases of his wine in the first year, now he is selling more than 80,000 cases. Ken is hoping to increase the production to more than 200,000 cases in the next 4 years. Located south of Stellenbosch (approximately 6 km from the coast) near the Helderberg Mountain, most of Ken Forrester…

  • Fine Wine Reviews,  Visiting a vineyard

    Vondeling Wines, South Africa

    Vondeling Wines is one of the exciting recent projects in South Africa. Vondeling Wines was bought by Julian Johnsen, Anthony Ward, and Richard Gower in 2002. Since 2002, the farm has expanded and huge reconstruction program took place including extensive replanting and winery renovation. The farm spreads across 467 hectares of land, including 100 hectares of vineyard, as well as a few hectares of olive trees and woodland on the foothill of Paardeberg mountain. In 2013, a tasting room and chapel was constructed for service and wedding events. Vondeling traces its origin back to 1704 when this piece of land was first granted to Oloff Bergh, a Swedish immigrant. Vondeling Wines…