Ken Forrester Renegade 75cl

This is the kind of South African red wine you pour when you want flavour first and overthinking never. It’s bold, juicy, and a little wild around the edges, in the best way, and it keeps you coming back for another sip (and another bite).

• Appearance: Deep ruby with a dark, inky core, it looks like it means business in the glass.
• Nose: Ripe blackberries and plum up front, with a hit of cracked pepper and a whisper of smoky spice.
• Taste: Dark fruit leads the charge, then comes savoury spice, gentle oak warmth, and grippy but friendly tannins that make food taste better.
• Body: Medium to full-bodied, so it feels satisfying without turning into a workout.
• Finish: Long, peppery, and fruit-driven, it lingers like the last good song at a house party.

Why it works: that fruit-and-spice combo gives you instant comfort, but the structure keeps it from feeling flat. You get richness, you get freshness, and you get that little savoury edge that makes this way more than a basic “red wine” pour.

It’s also a great pick when you’re serving a crowd with mixed tastes. The bold fruit makes it easy to love, the spice keeps it interesting, and the tannins bring enough grip to handle real food (think burgers, grilled chicken, roasted veg, or anything with a bit of char).

If you’re building a go-to rotation, this is a smart addition because it plays multiple roles. Weeknight red. Casual dinner red. “I brought something fun” red. It shows up, does the job, and doesn’t demand a lecture.

One more thing we love: the name isn’t just for show. This bottle’s whole vibe is about big flavour and a bit of rebellion, the kind that makes you try a South African red you might’ve skipped before.

Fun Fact: Ken Forrester is one of South Africa’s best-known producers for Chenin Blanc, so when they drop a red with attitude like Renegade, it’s them stepping out of their comfort zone on purpose.