Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc Petit

Winery: Ken Forrester

Varietal: Chenin Blanc

One of the most versatile white wine grape varietals in the world is the Chenin Blanc, a green skinned grape most closely associated with the still and sparkling wines of the Loire Valley, but which are cultivated in many countries across the globe and revered for their fine character and unique attributes. One of the key features of the Chenin Blanc grape is the fact that it is able to express the characteristics of the terroir it is grown on, making for highly interesting and complex white wines prized by those looking for something a little different. Their high acidity means they are perfect for producing a wide range of different wine styles, from flavorful still white wines to elegant crémants and sweet, viscous and unusual dessert wines.

Region: Coastal Region

The coastal region of South Africa is one of the most prodigious and productive wine regions on earth, and one which covers a vast distance making up for most of the tip of the African continent. The history of South African wines is a fascinating and surprisingly long one, with the very first wines in the country being produced by settlers in the 1650s, long before many other New World countries had even been discovered. Today, coastal South African wines are wildly popular around the world thanks to their big, fruity flavors and relative simplicity. Wineries in the region make the most of the hot sunshine, the high quality soils, and the brisk oceanic winds which keep disease at bay and stop the grapes from getting too hot, and produce a wide variety of wines of great distinction.

Country: South Africa

Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.