The Story of Blankbottle:
Blankbottle offers something for those with an open mind and an adventurous spirit. Winemaker Pieter Walser is passionate about telling stories through his wines—both what’s in the bottle and what’s on the label. His goal is to provide an authentic, personal taste, free from the expectations often associated with specific vintages or styles. Pieter collaborates with skilled farmers and experienced viticulturists across the Western Cape and designs his own labels, ensuring a unique and creative expression in every bottle.
“In 2004, a lady came to my house (then also my office) to buy wine. She asked for anything but Shiraz. “I don’t drink Shiraz”, were her exact words. I poured her a glass of wine. She loved it and bought 3 cases. It was a straight Shiraz.” -Pieter Walser
The Story behind the Label:
Manon des Sources – 2010 White Blend
A rare bottle-aged blend of Weisser Riesling, Sémillon & Sauvignon Blanc from Elgin Valley. In 2012, I started working with grapes from a small passion project vineyard on a fruit farm. After releasing my own blend, the farm owner asked me to bottle a batch for him — intended for private enjoyment. Years passed, and the wine remained untouched. I eventually bought it back, releasing it nearly a decade later. It sold out instantly — where else do you find a 9-year-old South African white like this?
The name Manon des Sources is close to my heart. Our Swiss friend Eric used to call our daughter, Alexa, “Manon,” after the wild, barefoot character from Marcel Pagnol’s novel. When it came time to design the label, Alexa drew herself — wild hair and flowing dress — and the name was set.
Years later, in a wild twist of fate, we met Nicola Pagnol, Marcel’s grandson, at a film festival in Marseille — proving my wife right when she warned me about the name!
Air Carrots of Pagnol 2018
Inspired by that chance meeting, we crafted this Grenache Blanc & Grenache Gris blend, textured and layered with a bit of skin contact. The label? A map of Marseille, honoring the Pagnol family roots.
