Ep 276 - Ken Forrester: The King of Chenin Blanc & the Wild Side of South African Wine

Season 7 of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat begins in South Africa with one of the wine world's biggest personalities: Ken Forrester. Known as the “King of Chenin Blanc”, Ken joins Janina for a conversation filled with extraordinary stories, pioneering winemaking and plenty of laughter, while exploring what has made Stellenbosch one of the world's most exciting Wine Regions. Ken explains why this grape has thrived in South Africa and how decades of experimentation have produced wines ranging from vibrant traditional-method sparkling wine to the iconic FMC and the extraordinarily complex The Dirty Little Secret. For anyone looking to learn about wine through the stories of the people actually making it, this is wine education at its most entertaining. Ken also shares the story of planting Mourvèdre in South Africa, why he believes Pinotage should be celebrated as a fresh, juicy and even chillable red, and how Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre come together in his Three Halves blend. Along the way, Janina tastes several of his wines and explores just how diverse South African Wine Grapes can be. This Wine Podcast is also a reminder that wine doesn't need to be intimidating. From Sparklehorse and old-vine Chenin Blanc to Wagyu biltong and some truly outrageous stories, Ken's philosophy is ultimately about enjoyment, curiosity and sharing great bottles with good people. And if South Africa is on your Wine Travel list, expect to finish this episode wanting to head straight to Stellenbosch. Shownotes 03:15 – Ken's most outrageous wine story — a night out, a seventh-floor window and an extraordinarily lucky landing that Ken probably shouldn't have survived. 07:16 – The wild characters of South African wine — Ken remembers Charles Back of Fairview and other larger-than-life personalities who helped make the country's wine industry unforgettable.  08:35 – The people who shaped Ken's career — looking back at the pioneers and characters who influenced South African wine as the modern industry began to emerge. 13:24 – Why Chenin Blanc is so versatile — Ken explains how one grape can produce everything from crunchy sparkling wine to dry whites and intensely sweet dessert wines. 16:02 – What makes great Sauvignon Blanc? — why Ken believes truly exceptional sites need serious cooling influence and why only certain parts of South Africa deliver the right conditions. 17:32 – The accidental birth of Sparklehorse — how one troublesome patch of an old Chenin Blanc vineyard inspired Ken to create his traditional-method sparkling wine. £21(Mix 12) Great Wine Co 22:06 – Why wine should be fun — the philosophy behind Sparklehorse, Ken's team and his belief that enjoying what you do ultimately makes better wine. 25:30 – Affordable Chenin Blanc with serious personality — tasting Ken Forrester Petit Chenin and discovering why an everyday wine can still deliver freshness, clean fruit and real character. £9.90 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co 27:39 – The story behind FMC — how an old 1974 Chenin Blanc vineyard, ambitious winemaking and several failed attempts eventually created one of South Africa's most celebrated white wines. £38.70 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co 35:18 – When FMC became “Burgundy” — Ken recalls persuading a sceptical wine shopper to taste beyond price and reputation before revealing what was really in her glass. 37:26 – The Dirty Little Secret — how a remarkable high-altitude old-vine Chenin Blanc vineyard and a multi-vintage solera-style approach created one of Ken's most complex and unconventional wines. £81 (Mix 12) Great Wine Co 41:39 – Bringing Mourvèdre to South Africa — why Ken wanted this Mediterranean grape for his Rhône-style blends and how it adds earthiness, structure and power alongside Grenache and Syrah. 46:59 – Two South African reds to discover