Cult South African winery Blankbottle joins Alliance Wine/H2Vin portfolio
Press Release | London, 1 June 2026 For Immediate Release
Pieter Walser’s cult Western Cape project begins a new chapter in the UK market this June, as Alliance Wine takes on distribution of one of South Africa’s most talked about and genre-defying producers.
We are proud to announce we have become the exclusive UK importer of Blankbottle, the Western Cape winery that has built a devoted following on both sides of the trade with their unconventional labels, strong storytelling and parcel focused approach.
The initial offering will focus on a core of Blankbottle's best known wines, with further small-parcel releases to follow. Available to both on- and off-trade customers, every one of Pieter's wines tells its own story - not hung upon grape variety but on the juice in the bottle. Grape Variety and regional identity take a back seat, with parcel expression, storytelling and incredible labels all designed by Pieter himself taking the wheel.
Blankbottle is unlike anything else in our portfolio, or frankly, anyone else’s. Pieter has built something genuinely rare, wines that are critically acclaimed, accessibly priced, and completely, unmistakably themselves.
The story began in 2004, when a customer came to Pieter to buy some wine. “I don’t drink Shiraz”, were her exact words. He poured her a glass of wine. She loved it and bought three cases. It was a straight Shiraz. That was the moment he realised that people really do judge a book by its cover. His response was to leave the label blank of any varietal information — and let the wine speak entirely for itself.
Blankbottle has grown from a garage project into one of the Western Cape’s most authentic producers, highly rated by the wine press and respected amongst peers, while maintaining the independent, instinct-driven spirit that defined it from the start. Each wine released is treated as an individual narrative, with no grape varieties listed and no fixed stylistic boundaries.
Pieter owns no vineyards, instead he works with a network of 66 growers across the Western Cape, selecting fruit based on personality and site expression rather than variety or reputation. Two viticulturists, Jaco Engelbrecht and Francois Hanekom, work closely with growers to ensure a sustainable, quality-driven approach, with the team covering thousands of kilometres each harvest in search of old-vine parcels, marginal plots and forgotten sites that carry real character.
In the cellar, the philosophy is low-intervention and highly intuitive; spontaneous fermentations, minimal additions, and up to 90 separate fermentations across concrete egg, amphora, and oak. Blending happens late, guided by taste and instinct as much as data. Every label is hand-designed by Pieter himself using woodcuts, lino prints, pencil drawings, stencils and each bottle carries a QR code linking to one of his own short films, bringing the story behind the wine to life in a way few producers anywhere in the world attempt.
South Africa is increasingly one of the most exciting regions in the wine world, and Blankbottle represents its most forward-thinking edge. A new generation of premium drinkers who are curious, story-hungry, and allergic to convention, already knows Pieter’s work well. For UK customers in the on and off trade, looking to tap into that energy, this partnership arrives at exactly the right moment.
“Blankbottle is unlike anything else in our portfolio, or frankly, anyone else’s. Pieter has built something genuinely rare, wines that are critically acclaimed, accessibly priced, and completely, unmistakably themselves,” says Jean Wareing MW, Head of Buying & Brand. “South Africa is one of the most exciting regions we work with, and Blankbottle sits right at its creative frontier. We're delighted to be working with Pieter and his incredible wines and couldn't think of a more prefect addition to illustrate the value in pushing boundaries”
Blankbottle wines are available exclusively through Alliance Wine/H2Vin from early June 2026 to both on- and off-trade. Seven wines are available at launch, with further small-parcel and limited releases to follow throughout the year. Pieter Walser will be visiting the UK later in 2026 — trade tasting details will be announced in due course.
For samples, pricing and further information, please contact:
- For Scotland enquiries, Freya Reinsch, freya.reinsch@alliancewine.com
- For London On-trade enquiries, Holly Sharpe, holly.sharpe@alliancewine.com
- For Off-trade enquiries, Alex Baudouin, Alex.Baudouin@alliancewine.com
By Kiki Evans, Press, Content & Design Manager, Alliance Wine.
