Blankbottle, Moment of Silence, Wellington, 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

Boberg - bush vine Chenin blanc planted on the top of the Groenberg in decomposed granite overlooking Wellington. PW - a old bush vine Chenin blanc vineyard planted on "Koffieklip" at the foothills of the Groenberg, with a touch of traditionally farmed Viognier.

Winemaking

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees Celsius. The next morning, the grapes were pressed as whole bunches. The juice underwent spontaneous fermentation in concrete egg-shaped tanks, amphora and older French oak barrels. In the depths of winter, the wine received one sulphur addition, spending in total, 10 months on the lees before being blended and bottled.

Tasting Note

A beautiful Chenin Blanc based white supported by Grenache Blanc and a dash of Viognier, to displays vibrant peaches and cream, with characters of pear and orchard fruit, all bound up with clean lemon acidity and a savoury undertone to add interest. The mixture of old barrels, concrete and amphora gives this wine amazing energy and texture, and remains incredible value for money.

Food matching

Fresh seafood shines here: grilled sole, lemony prawns or scallops, with herbs and olive oil, echoing the wine’s purity, texture and restrained citrus freshness.