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Cork & Fizz
​Wine Blog

Swill or Swell: Episode 9

11/26/2021

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Mbali Chenin Blanc + Viognier

WATCH THE EPISODE HERE
Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

​
CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!
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LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE
Today I’ll be tasting the Mbali Chenin Blanc and Viognier White Blend from California. I saw this at Trader Joe’s for $5, so I couldn’t pass that up! I’m excited about this wine because I don’t drink a lot of South African wine, and I thought it would be fun to compare it to the Pine Ridge I showed you all a couple weeks ago.
MBALI CHENIN BLANC + VIOGNIER FUN FACTS
Let’s start by talking about the Western Cape, South African region.

  • Dutch East India Company used Cape Town as a resupply stop on route to India during the 1600s
  • Settlers planted wine grapes to quench thirsty sailors
  • Wine was not good until the second Governer of Cape Town focused on making a better vineyard. He began producing a dessert wine called Constantia, a dessert wine that rivaled top dessert wines like Hungarian Tokaji and French Sauternes
  • It took a turn for the worst after phyloxera

Now a little bit about the terroir (the natural environment where this particular wine is produced)
  • Most of the Cape’s wine growing regions are influenced by one of the two mighty oceans which meet at this southernmost tip of Africa: the Atlantic and the Indian oceans.
  • Regular coastal fog and cooling sea breezes, moderate Mediterranean climate, distinctive and varied topography, and diverse soils
  • The top grapes in this terroir include Chenin Blanc & Cabernet Sauvignon
WINE TASTING NOTES
Look: Light yellow/straw, hint of green
Smell: Very fruit forward. Tropical: pineapple, kiwi, mango; Stone fruit: peach; Green apple. Hint of something else...maybe almond or marzipan?
Taste: Medium acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, dry
Think:
Food Pairing - Roasted white meat with some sort of fruity sauce; but also snacky foods like pretzels, chips, fresh fruit
Occasion - 100% a summer pool party wine!
Rating - Not my favorite style of wine, but overall there’s nothing off-putting about the wine. If you like fruity wine, this is for you! I give it a swell!

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!


Cheers!
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  • Home
  • Private Tastings
    • In-Person Tastings
    • Virtual Tastings
    • Blind Tastings
  • Cork Crew
    • About
    • How to Join
    • Members Page >
      • Cork Crew Newsletters
      • Cork Crew Slides
      • Cork Crew Recordings
  • Wine Retreat
  • Events
  • More Services
    • Personal Wine Consultant
    • Partnerships
  • Wine Blog
  • Shop