Ever judged a book by its cover? Or more accurately, a wine by its grape? If you’ve ever confidently declared, “I’m ABC – anything but Chardonnay!” or “I never drink Merlot,” then top South African winemaker Pieter Walser has a bottle of wine that will happily prove you wrong, writes Richard Holloway.
Founded in 2004, this cult-status winery operates on a wonderfully simple, rule-breaking premise: they never put the grape varieties on the front label. Ever.
The idea was sparked when a customer visited Pieter’s home, explicitly stating she hated Shiraz. Pieter, being a cheeky contrarian, poured her a glass from a completely blank, unlabelled bottle. She absolutely loved it and immediately bought three cases. When she found out it was 100% Shiraz, she was astonished. Realising that drinkers carry massive psychological baggage when they see a grape name, Pieter decided to strip away the prejudice. He created a brand where your palate does 100% of the judging.
Along with the unconventional labels, (all hand created by Pieter) Blankbottle also takes a different approach to how the wine is made. Pieter Walser doesn’t actually own a single square metre of vineyard land. Instead, he acts as a nomadic grape-hunter, driving thousands of kilometres across the Western Cape in his trusty ‘bakkie’ (pickup truck). He sources top-tier fruit from over 70 different vineyards, stretching from Elgin to the Swartland.
The winery produces between 40 and 56 completely different wines every single year, spanning roughly 30 grape varieties. The bottles themselves look like absolute works of art, featuring Pieter’s own woodcuts, sketches, and digital designs. Each wine is also tied to a highly specific, often hilarious backstory. Take “Moment of Silence,” a rich, textured white blend born out of a literal moment of quiet reflection, or “Master of None,” a vibrant red blend that cheekily nods to the experimental nature of the cellar.
We also have the “Orbitofrontal Cortex”, “Seelug” and the “Retirement at 65” too.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding; Stroud Wine Company will be showcasing a selection of six of these amazingly characterful wines on the evening Friday 30th October 2026 at our Griffin Mill store, hosted by our friend and Blankbottle expert Francesca Addis. Book now via our website stroudwine.com and a memorable evening is guaranteed!
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