The Empire Strikes Back is a white produced by BLANKbottle in Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Made from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Roussanne and Marsanne. Cellarion's sommeliers have reviewed the drink window of 1 vintage; members see when it is ready. Track this wine and manage your cellar with Cellarion — the free, open-source wine app at cellarion.app.
Type: White
Appellation: Stellenbosch
Region: Stellenbosch
Country: South Africa
Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne
Tasting profile
Structure: full-bodied, high acidity, dry
Pieter Walser's Stellenbosch answer to the Swartland white-blend movement: Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Roussanne and Marsanne from granite and deep Helderberg soils, fermented spontaneously in concrete egg, amphora and old oak.
Serving: Serve at 10–12 °C.
When to drink
Cellarion's sommeliers have reviewed the drink window of 1 vintage of The Empire Strikes Back. Sign up free to see when it is ready.
Where it comes from
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Stellenbosch is South Africa's best-known fine-wine district, set among granite hills just inland from Cape Town, and is the historic centre of the country's quality wine trade.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is a versatile white grape from France's Loire Valley, capable of everything from bone-dry to lusciously sweet and sparkling, all underpinned by vibrant acidity.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a white grape from Burgundy that has spread to nearly every wine-growing region on earth, prized for its versatility and its ability to reflect both terroir and the winemaker's hand.
Verdelho
Verdelho is a white grape of Portuguese origin, historically important on the island of Madeira, where it lends its name to one of the classic styles of fortified Madeira wine.
Roussanne
Roussanne is a white grape from France's northern Rhône, often partnered with Marsanne to make some of the region's most distinguished whites.
More wines
From BLANKbottle
- Kortpad Kaaptoe — BLANKbottle, Swartland
- Master of None — BLANKbottle, Western Cape
- Orbitofrontal Cortex — BLANKbottle, Stellenbosch
More white wines from Stellenbosch
- Bushvine Chenin Blanc — Stellenbosch Vineyards, Stellenbosch
- Chardonnay — Meerlust, Stellenbosch
- Chardonnay — Hartenberg Estate, Stellenbosch
- Chardonnay — Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch
Frequently asked questions
Where is The Empire Strikes Back from?
The Empire Strikes Back is produced by BLANKbottle in Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
What grapes are in The Empire Strikes Back?
The Empire Strikes Back is a blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdelho, Roussanne and Marsanne.