Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc

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This piece was originally published by Port2Port.

Ken Forrester
Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc
2021
Stellenbosch

Ah Christmas. ’Tis the most family-filled time of the year. Someone’s stressing about the symmetry of the Christmas tree decorations, while one aunt has realised she’s severely under-catered on the potato salad, and another can’t find her Christmas carol playlist (equal parts classic hymns and Michael Bublé). One cousin explains the truth of Father Christmas to the family baby, while a third compares their number of presents to everyone else’s, and a fourth has brought a new boyfriend fully hatched from the shire. There’s an uncle who’s spent the last month emailing How To Make The Perfect Turkey hacks, only to find out your parents have bought a pre-cooked turkey from Hartlief.

The Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc is the cool older cousin who walks into this mayhem and is the balm to your strained soul. Her hoop earrings glinting in the sun, she is the safe golden corner you retreat to on the stoep to the background discussion on whether the oven could have fit an entire turkey.

With her intriguing initial struck match reductiveness and crisp yet oh-so-soft cling peach syrupy lightness, the Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc is effortless. A long-time subscriber of Architectural Digest and buyer of freshly cut flowers, her Spotify Wrapped personality was The Early Adopter (you instantly followed her top five artists who will become your top five next year). Even her hand-me-down Carrol Boyes serving spoons are a level of chic you aspire to. Like the MELI-FALI solo (are those wind chimes? A glockenspiel marimba? Musical bicycle spokes?), just when you thought you’d put your finger on her x-factor, she hits you with an unexpected salty grapefruit pithiness that you are 100% here for.

Pair with: Inevitably someone at the Christmas table will debate the Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary, mention Eskom, or complain about the starting salary demands of Gen Zs. When that happens, the Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc is your escape or blessed distraction, pleasing everyone from your uncle who fancies himself a connoisseur because he drank Chateau Libertas in the ‘90s to your Sauvignon Blanc and ice loving auntie.