Blankbottle, Familiemoord, Piekenierskloof, South Africa, 2025

Producer Profile

Blankbottle is the fiercely independent South African wine project of Pieter Walser, a winemaker known for rejecting convention in favour of curiosity, instinct and storytelling.

Founded in the early 2000s, the name stems from Walser’s early trade in unlabelled bottles and reflects his core philosophy: wine should be judged solely on what is in the glass, not what is written on the label. Each release is treated as an individual narrative, with no grape varieties listed and no fixed stylistic boundaries. Walser owns no vineyards, instead working as a modern-day négociant, sourcing fruit from exceptional sites across the Western Cape, often in extremely small parcels. The result is an ever-evolving portfolio of distinctive, site-driven wines, many of which are made only once and never repeated. Each label is handcrafted by owner-winemaker Pieter Walser, using a variety of techniques such as woodcuts, lino, pencil drawings, stencils etc. Having no indication of varietals on the label - leaving it BLANK - removing all preconceptions as to what lies beyond.

Viticulture

Grapes are from a single vineyard old bush-vine high altitude vineyard on sandstone soil, high in the Piekenierskloof mountains.

Winemaking

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees celsius. The next morning the grapes were destemmed and crushed to an open top fermenter. As the tank filled the free run juice was removed into another tank. They drain all the juice possible until they are left with only skins and pulp. The skins and pulp underwent spontaneous fermentation and stayed on the skins for as long as possible. Pressed into older French oak small barrels, 10 months in barrel, blended and bottled.

Tasting Note

Pieter describes this as 'the most beautiful Grenache we could find' and we wholeheartedly agree. Raspberry ripple, fynbos-scented, spice, supple tannins and real intensity whilst retaining such delicacy. The label is based on the extraordinary but true story of how the police thought Pieter had killed his son and buried him in a shallow grave in the vacant property next to their house. The Cape Argus' article on 11 May 2013 about the incident titled “The mystery of the boy in the sandpit” serves as this wine’s label ... but panic not! It was nothing more than a misunderstanding!

Food matching

Pairs well with lamb cutlets, duck, or grilled Mediterranean vegetables with herbs.