Ken Forrester Wines

Ken Forrester is a man that enjoys the finer pleasures in life and it reflects in the list of top restaurants and wines that have caused a stir in two of South Africa's major cities.

Ken has created a special brand of hospitality that people have enjoyed for the past 20 years. Scholtzenhof, the historic farm outside Stellenbosch, is what Ken calls home. The original 1689 homestead - it features on the Ken Forrester wine label - is where the family spend time relaxing and horse-riding.

Scholtzenhof is one of the very oldest wine farms in the Cape, originally granted as Zandberg in 1689, just ten years after Stellenbosch was founded. The original land, 64 morgen, was given by Governer Simon van der Stel to Frederick Boot, of Gotha near Wagenheim in Germany, who later changed his name to Botha. History tells us this Botha is the forefather of the illustrious family of presidents, first of the Free State Republic and more recently the old Republic of South Africa.

Mr. Boot was a colourful character, a soldier who had completed his contract and hence a 'free burger'. He established the first documented agricultural partnership in the Cape with Jan Cornelisz ( Jan Bombam) and fathered no fewer than eight children - out of wedlock which earned he and his mistress banishment to Mauritius for 10 years!

Prior to that, however, Zandberg in 1692 was recorded to have 12 000 vines planted and construction on a house began that same year. One of the few remaining examples of 17th century buildings left in the Cape. For the last 100 years or so quality grapes have been delivered to De Helderberg Co-op, but in 1994 we pressed a small quantity of our Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and with the help and support of Mike Dobrovic, of Mulderbosch fame produced the first Scholtzenhof \ Ken Forrester wine, Blanc Fume 1994. These grapes were fermented in new French and American oak barrels and kept on the lees for an extended period before bottling, resulting in a rich complex wine with prominent oak aged characteristics.

In 1995 we added a partially wood fermented Chenin Blanc to the range. Not just a fruity, upfront, happy, quaffing wine - we specifically endeavoured to produce Chenin Blanc to stand a class apart, in a different style. A wine of complex structure and discernible character, the ideal accompaniment to fine food.

Currently, the range of Ken Forrester Wines enjoy the skills of Martin Meinert who presides over each harvest and in conjunction with Ken ensures that these wines will always be quality individuals.

Martin Meinert is the proprietor and winemaker of Meinert Wines at Devon Crest Vineyards, Devon Valley nearStellenbosch. Born in Windhoek, Namibia., he was a journalist on the Rand Daily Mail before studying Oenology and Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch where he graduated with a B. Sc. Agric Cum. laude in 1984. After stints at Simonsig, the Bergkelder and California, he joined Vergelegen in 1989, helping to establish the historic property's wine business. He left to develop his home property and range of hand-crafted red wines at Devon Crest in 1997.

Martin's first wines from the 16ha red wine only property were released in November, 1999. Besides these he makes the wines for Ken Forrester and Sylvan Vale, the latter for his neighbours at the Devon Valley Hotel. He also consults to Stonewall and made the first two vintages of Graceland. With Ken and two other partners he owns the successful 96 Winery Road Restaurant, underscoring his love for good food. He also enjoys travel and has worked vintages in France, Chile and California besides also visiting Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Argentina.