Blank Bottle: Producer profile plus 13 wines to seek out

Blank Bottle – Pieter Walser
Pieter Walser of Blank Bottle in South Africa.

Each year in the Western Cape, the Vintners Surf Classic competition takes place, a surfing contest where more than 50 winemakers from South Africa take to the ocean to go head-to-head in the waves. The competition began in 2000 by a group of winemakers who hated golf but loved to surf.

Reigning Vintners Surf Classic champion is Pieter Walser, the blond-haired whirlwind behind the Blank Bottle label, but he’s too modest to talk about it himself.

It came to light over lunch following a recent tasting held by Walser’s UK importer Swig. ‘It’s no surprise that he won, as he lives on the beach,’ said one fellow winemaker and surf competitor, partly in jest.


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 13 Blank Bottle wines to try


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