Ken Forrester Wines: Ken Forrester, Owner/Winemaker

Why South Africa? We are supporting the wine producing country most hard hit by the lock down.

Wine producers in the Cape were left reeling after the South African government announced a ban on transporting alcohol that effectively shut down wine exports. The wine industry suffered a steep fall in income, as alcohol sales were prohibited during the lockdown.

“The industry employs up to 700,000 people directly on average and provides food and shelter to 2 to 3 million people.” — Michael Fridjhon. He is a leading wine writer and independent commentator. Michael is a well known international wine judge and chairman of the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. As visiting Professor of Wine Business at the University of Cape Town, Michael has been an advisor to the Minister of Agriculture.

Rico Basson, CEO of Vinpro, which which represents 3 500 South African wine producers, cellars and other industry stakeholders, said wine tourism had suffered crippling losses between March and June – usually a busy time locally, he noted.

“A significant factor in the estimated loss is the strong domestic support that wine tourism in South Africa enjoys, especially over traditional school holidays and Easter weekend,” Basson said.

According to a report by Vinpro, South Africa’s wine tourism industry’s direct and indirect GDP contribution was R7.2 billion in 2019.

Included in your registration:

• 6 sample bottles (50ml ea, 1 sample bottle of 6 different wines)
• Online Masterclass with the winemaker
• Hosted by a Cork & Fork Logan Team Member
• 20% discount on all featured wines (minimum purchase of 3 bottles)
• Access to the online class, password protected (emailed after registration)

Details:

• Sample pack available for pick up after online event registration
• Sample pack available for delivery for $20 within a 10-mile radius
• Sample pack available for shipping within the USA for $30 via FedEx

– About the Guest Speaker: Ken Forrester

‘Mr. Chenin’ is how Ken Forrester is best known, and rightly so, as he was one of the first to cherish and respect old-vine chenin, to revolutionize the vinification style. He still makes a wide range of chenin blancs to suit all palates from his base on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. Much of this work has been in partnership with his old friend Martin Meinert, and their most famous chenin, The FMC (Forrester Meinert Chenin), celebrates this long term relationship.

Forrester’s first bottlings were back in 1994 and he now makes a wide range of wines, including own labels for South African and UK supermarkets. His red focus is on Rhône varieties, which he believes is the way forward for the Cape’s largely Mediterranean climate.

He is also a restaurateur, and 96 Winery Road is one of the most popular in the in the winelands. He is one of the 15 original PIWOSA (Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa) members.