Blue Crane Imports – Meet Winemaker Pieter H. Walser of BLANKbottle

Trade hours from 5-6PM. Event continues with consumers from 6-8PM.

RSVP to: jon.clark@bluecraneimports.com

Regarded as one of the most innovative producers in South Africa, in 2004 Pieter Walser pursued an ambition to make wine of quality, excitement and mystery – for those intrigued by what’s in the bottle, not by what’s on the label. Armed with an education in Agriculture, Viticulture and Oenology, and a nomadic, adventurous spirit, BLANKbottle was born. Pieter sought creative flexibility, and to be unconstrained when it came to style, region, vintage and cultivars. This led him to form alliances with vineyards, winemakers and wineries throughout the country, and the opportunity to craft unique blends of premium character. This versatility turned out to be the BLANKbottle edge.

Pieter’s eclectic range is from vineyards positioned across the Western Cape, representing diverse regions, micro-climates, soil types, and varietals, ultimately leading to different wine styles and the ability to also introduce once-off limited runs of compelling wines. As Pieter tells it himself, “When I started BLANKbottle, my goal was to create an honest wine brand that had no limitations in order to break down any preconceived expectations….I’ve come to realize that the road I’m on does not necessarily lead to the perfect winery. Rather, it’s an adventure, it gives me stories to tell, and that I count as my true riches and success.” As it turns out, the BLANKbottle labels are in fact as exceptional as the wine, having recently won multiple awards, including the Grand Prix, at the 2015 Wine Label Design Awards.

Blue Crane Imports is a Chicago-based importer and distributor with an exclusive focus on South African wines. We deliver a high-quality, high-value range, which captures the beauty, style, and passion of the country and its winemakers.