Furman and Kennington Family Winery Create Bonhomie Wines

Furman University is toasting to tradition with a new collaboration intended to capture the spirit of the Furman community in every sip. Partnering with Kennington Family Winery, the university has helped create two custom wines – a cabernet sauvignon and a sauvignon blanc – crafted to embody Furman’s warmth, excellence and community.

The idea for the Kennington winery was born in 2019 when Furman alumna Allison Shawn Kennington ’86 and her family were living in Indiana.

“I came to my son Phillip when he was a senior in college and said, ‘What if we open a winery? And what if we open it in South Carolina?’” Kennington recalled. “At first it was wishful thinking, but the more we talked about it, the more it became real.”

By 2020, the Kennington family purchased land off U.S. 25 in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, for their new venture. In 2022, they opened the Kennington Family Winery. And just a couple years later, the dream of making specialty blends in collaboration with her alma mater was in the works.

A sign welcomes people to Kennington Family Winery in Marietta, South Carolina. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.

“From the start, we wanted this to meet Furman’s brand of excellence,” Kennington said. “Every decision – from the varietals to the labels – was made together. It’s been a true partnership.”

The name Bonhomie was drawn from Furman’s yearbook and has significance for alumni. “It means cheerful fellowship, and that evokes special relationships and connection,” Allison Shawn said. “As an alum, that word carries so much meaning.”

“I love the way nostalgia and innovation come together with Bonhomie,” said Christine Velasquez, assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Furman. “It’s about connection, warmth and the friendships that define the Furman community.”

Homecoming attendees will be among the first to try both wines during a tasting event on Saturday, Oct. 25, on the Furman Mall. They will be available for purchase at Kennington Family Winery, select Greenville locations and online through Kennington Family Winery and VinoShipper, so alumni nationwide can raise a glass.

“You could be sitting in Oregon or New York, open a bottle and tell your kids what Furman meant to you,” Kennington said. “That’s what wine does. It allows us to connect memory and meaning.”

“This partnership reflects Furman’s culture of thinking innovatively and engaging in meaningful, out-of-the-box opportunities,” Velasquez said. “We were looking for something that honored [Kennington’s] experience and Furman’s history. Bonhomie is the perfect way to do that.”